The New Palace Pousada
It’s the second Pousada to open this year, and it’s the most palatial ever. For those who aren’t yet familiar with Portugal’s Pousadas, they’re special hotels in renovated historical buildings (castles, palaces, monasteries, mansions, etc.), and offer a unique experience that adds to a memorable trip to Portugal. In a pousada, guests get a real taste of Portugal, in the refined traditional gastronomy of their restaurants, and in the buildings themselves, in their furnishings or locations of cultural interest. The latest one is found in Estoi, a small town outside the city of Faro that is so close to that capital of the sunny Algarve province, that the hotel is called Pousada de Faro Palácio Estoi.
The Palácio is an elegant 18th century rococco building, a sort of tiny Versailles also surrounded by formal gardens that served as the private residence of nobility for decades. It’s very close to Faro’s international airport, and its location also allows you to see some fascinating Roman ruins nearby, while the famous beaches of Portugal’s southern coastline are also not too far away. If you prefer to spend a day in the confort of your hotel, it offers fifty rooms, a restaurant, a deluxe spa, and both an indoor and outdoor pool. While the building may be historic, the furnishings are mostly contemporary and offer the high-speed internet and LCD flat screen TVs that modern travelers expect to find.
This new pousada opened just in time for the late-spring and early-summer season, when Algarve is already flooded with sun and warm temperatures but not yet invaded with tourists. You can find more information about Pousada de Faro Palácio Estoi, including prices on specific dates here: Pousada de Faro Palácio Estoi.
