Quinta das Lagrimas is an astonishing hotel that offers all you could hope for in an exclusive luxury hotel

Location: Coimbra

The hotel offers three different atmospheres: the Palace, Garden and Spa guestrooms. The palace rooms, which once accommodated the Duke of Wellington and the king Miguel of Portugal, have the charm and romanticism of days gone and offer a stay in history. Offering direct access to the serene botanical garden, the garden rooms overlook the stage for the love affair of Pedro and Ines. The modernly designed spa rooms boast stunning views of the Quinta’s woods and Coimbra.

The Quinta das Lagrimas Hotel is a member of Relais & Chateaux, an association of hopitality establishments that includes beautiful charm hotels and the finest restaurants in the world.

Quinta das Lagrimas, located halfway between Porto and Lisbon, is much more than just a charming hotel. The comfort of its rooms and suites is complemented by a medieval legend of love.

History: It was at the Quinta that in the XIVth century Prince Pedro and Ines de Castro lived their forbidden love affair. Legend says that it was here that Ines cried for the last time, while being pierced by the daggers of the killers sent by King Afonso, Pedro’s father. Her blood still colors the stone-bed of the fountain that was born of her tears - the tears that gave the name to this romantic estate.

Legend says that Ines' ghost still roams the Quinta, eternally searching for Pedro. If you are lucky you might even meet her…

Restaurant: This specialty cuisine uses traditional ingredients of this region to create exquisite recipes that refresh four times per year, with the rhythm of the seasons. It is a “Market Cuisine” because it uses only the freshest ingredients available. The Chefs use vegetables and herbs organically grown on the estate's grounds. In the restaurant, which was recently granted a Michelin star, you will be able to savour aromatic herbs from the Chef’s Garden and oranges, lemons and avocados from the orchard, as well as the raspberries and wild watercress that grow all over the Quinta.

SPA: The Bamboo Garden Spa at Quinta das Lagrimas is a sanctuary of peace and serenity that offers a series of treatments aimed at promoting relaxation and well-being for mind and body.

Golfe: The hotel's on site golf academy (equipped with a driving range and a 9-hole pitch and putt course), specialised in the training of short-game, is complemented by the region’s two golf courses, the closest of which is located 20 minutes away from the hotel.

Botanic Gardens: The Quinta's 12 hectares of botanical gardens are a haven for dozens of species of birds and also a true Natural Museum where rare trees are exhibited as if they were works of art. The Quinta das Lagrimas' collection of trees boasts specimens from all corners of the world, including camphor trees, maples, palm trees, araucarias, and a couple of sequoias planted by the Duke of Wellington when he visited the estate in the early nineteenth century when the general was the commander in chief of the Anglo-Portuguese army that repelled Napoleon’s troops. The Duke's lieutenant was the lord of the manor and he stayed at the Quinta for two occasions, leaving profound memories behind.