Moreira de Rei & the area
Here you still find everyday Portugal: traditional, quiet and barely touched by mass tourism.
Moreira de Rei & the area
Here you still find everyday Portugal: traditional, quiet and barely touched by mass tourism.
Moreira de Rei is far more than just the village Santuário de Poesia stands in. Walking through the old heart of the village, you literally walk between many centuries of history.
Around Santuário lies a landscape that invites you to explore. In the surrounding villages and towns ordinary Portuguese life carries on, with local markets, small cafés, old customs and a natural rhythm you never have to go looking for.
The necropolis of Santa Marinha
Around the beautiful Romanesque church of Santa Marinha lies the largest known necropolis of the Iberian Peninsula, with more than eight hundred graves cut into the rock. Part of it is still visible; in and around the church the story of this ancient burial ground is told.
The castle ruin
The ruins of the castle recall the rich past of Moreira de Rei. The settlement has been documented since the tenth century, and for centuries this elevated spot played an important role in the region.
Walking
From the village you walk straight into nature, along dirt tracks and centuries-old routes, past impressive granite formations, ravines and silent fields. Two officially marked routes run through the area, alongside countless old paths where you can walk for kilometres without meeting anyone.
Barragem de Teja
A fifteen-minute drive along a beautiful dirt road takes you to the Barragem de Teja: a peaceful spot for swimming, paddleboarding, canoeing and simply enjoying nature. A paddleboard and a two-person canoe are available to our guests free of charge.
Trancoso
Seven minutes away by car lies Trancoso, with its historic centre, shops, restaurants, terraces and a large, lively local market every Friday. The surrounding villages have plenty to discover too: old churches, castles, village squares and historic streets.
Serra da Estrela
The highest mountain range of mainland Portugal offers impressive landscapes, winding roads, walking routes, mountain villages and views that change with every season. In winter, when there is snow, you can ski.
Guarda & Viseu
Guarda, the highest city in Portugal, has an atmospheric historic centre, old streets, squares and an impressive cathedral. If you want to drive a little further, head for Viseu: a lively city combining history with pleasant squares, shops and restaurants.
Thermal baths & wellness
For extra relaxation there are hot springs and wellness facilities about thirty minutes away by car.
Getting here
Santuário de Poesia is easy to reach if you travel via Porto or Lisbon. From Porto the drive to Moreira de Rei takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes; from Lisbon it is roughly 3.5 hours.
So Santuário lies wonderfully quietly in the Portuguese interior, yet within comfortable reach of both cities and airports. And after a day full of impressions you return to the calm, the silence and the wide view of Santuário de Poesia.