Casa do Moinho Alto

An Ancient Windmill Reborn as a Contemporary Architectural Home

This architect-designed house in the hills of Sintra was completed in 2021, using the curves of an ancient windmill to form its striking centerpiece. It's a light and bright space with clean lines and polished concrete floors, furnished elegantly with only what is needed and blessed with large, angled windows that allow the views of the mountains and coastline to form a striking backdrop.

The house sits right beside 1.5 hectares of forested land in Penedo, a small village within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It has its own pool as well as five bedrooms that sleep up to 12 guests, making it perfect for families.

This villa for rent in Portugal has five bedrooms and four bathrooms over two levels. On the lower level are four of its bedrooms and two of the bathrooms. On the upper level are the master bedroom and two further bathrooms, but it's also where you'll find a sleek, white kitchen with a stylish dining bench, as well as a hall connecting to the large living room, the windmill space and a mezzanine living room. This level leads to the large terrace and outdoor dining area, with steps and a path down to the pool. The windmill space has been reconfigured playfully for kids and filled with games, books and toys, including a foosball table.

AROUND

There's plenty to do at this villa for rent in Portugal. Starting closest to home, it's a short walk to the forest, and there are numerous trekking and cycle paths in the Natural Park, reached easily from the house. The owners can provide GPX tracks and guides, and bikes (either electric or non-assisted) are available for rent nearby. Praia Grande, Adraga and Guincho beaches are all 10 minutes away by car and are great spots for surf lessons. 

There are plenty of excellent restaurants on the beaches and elsewhere nearby, offering seafood, traditional Portuguese cuisine, or family-friendly classics like pizza and pasta. If you want to venture farther afield, it's only a 30-minute drive to Lisbon's city center, or 20 minutes to the castles of historic Cascais and the natural history museum and botanical gardens in Sintra.

LOCATION

Peneda, Sintra, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon Portela (45 mins).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through fall.