The Best Hotels Near Pousada Mosteiro Crato, by the Record
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A former castle, ducal palace, monastery, and convent, this pousada in the Alentejo countryside has had more past lives than most small towns. Rooms are sleek and modern against all that ancient stonework, the pool sits in the shadow of the old façade, and the restaurant leans into the region's reputation for excellent cheese, olive oil, and slow-braised everything. The Alentejo is sometimes called Portugal's Tuscany, back when Tuscany was still a secret.
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A working vineyard and horse stable sit just outside the whitewashed manor, which tells you what kind of hotel this is before you've even unpacked. Torre de Palma is a wine hotel in Portugal's upper Alentejo, built over a 14th-century estate, with eighteen rooms ranging from traditional blue azulejo tile to dark, chandelier-lit suites. The Michelin Guide awarded it 2 Keys. Wine tastings, riding lessons, a spa, and candlelit Alentejo dinners fill the days, but the thick-walled rooms make a persuasive case for doing nothing at all.
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A sculptural white villa with five rooms tucked among olive groves and oak forest outside Évora, Villa Extramuros holds a Michelin Key and runs on a philosophy of productive idleness. Sleep late, eat a long breakfast, drift to the infinity pool, repeat. The staff can arrange horseback riding or winery visits if guilt sets in. Rooms have private patios, marble showers, and Aesop products, with heated floors in the superior rooms.