Casa do Mestrinho is a historic family home that has been restored over many years with respect for its original character and the history of the place. It is neither a standard accommodation nor a recent construction designed for mass tourism. It is a lived-in home, with real history, authenticity, and natural imperfections. The house features a garden overlooking the Douro River, where you can dine al fresco, host barbecues, and enjoy peaceful moments beneath the vineyards. It is situated in a quiet location, just a few minutes from Porto, with access to the city via bike paths and walking trails along the river. It offers a balance between the countryside and the city: the peace of a quiet area with easy access to the city center and the entire northern region of Portugal. The location is ideal for exploring the Douro River, Gaia Biological Park, the beaches of Gaia, and cities like Aveiro and Guimarães on day trips. Espinhaço is a restored historic area, simple and authentic, with a welcoming atmosphere and few tourists. This accommodation is ideal for those who appreciate homes with character, nature, and peaceful stays. It is not a hotel and does not offer formal services. We are a family that opens our home with care, authenticity, and respect for the place. We warmly welcome guests who value tranquility, respect for the space, and the spirit of the home.

We love the yellow leaves falling from the trees, we love the wind, we love small ideas, we love the power each of us has to change the world, we love utopia and freedom, we love it when a stranger helps another, we love traveling with a book, we love working the soil, making plants grow, we love creating objects, we love difference and diversity, we love very tiny things and very, very big things, and we love what they have in common. We love fleeting moments that linger in time. We love metamorphoses and the power of change. We love convictions and goodwill. We love imagination and creativity. We love justice; we love equality. We love the past and uninteresting stories. We like to distinguish the essential from the incidental and to set priorities. We like the ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes: whether they are those of the past, the future, neighbors, strangers, those with different beliefs, animals, plants, or extraterrestrials. We like the people we like, and we like meeting new people.

It is situated in a quiet location, just a few minutes from Porto (a 15-minute drive), with access to the city via bike paths and walking trails along the river (7 km). It offers the best of both worlds: the peace and quiet of a tranquil area with easy access to the city center and the entire northern region of Portugal. The location is ideal for exploring the Douro River, the Gaia Biological Park, the beaches of Gaia, the city of Porto, and other cities in Northern Portugal—such as Porto, Braga, Guimarães, and Aveiro—on day trips. Espinhaço is a restored historic area, simple and authentic, with a welcoming atmosphere and few tourists.