Casa estrelas cadentes – PD0438
Property in central Portugal
Casa Estrelas cadentes – PD0438
The House of the Shooting Stars
The House of the Shooting Stars is a remarkable compendium, a solid, stone built place, generous in
size, attractive in shape; roomy and well-lit, but with hidden, cosy spaces, little nooks and crannies,
both inside and out, that take you by surprise. There’s a roof garden where you can sunbath
unnoticed and a covered veranda with views that defy description, they are a small piece of
paradise; photographs can’t do them justice, they truly must be seen to be believed.
Accommodation is on three levels, the ground floor – 100m2 – is currently laid out for ample
storage/utility, a corridor leads to two good sized rooms, displaying, mostly, original timbers; both
will easily take double beds. There is an open plan area, possibly a future kitchen/sitting room and a
space designated for a second bathroom; nothing is cramped.
From the main entrance a flight of wide stone stairs lead up to the 1 st floor, like that below, it
extends to 100m2.
To your right is a spacious living area with good height, simply decorated, white walls, exposed
beams and wooden floorboards; windows with more superb views. At one end a full length patio
door giving access to the veranda, at the other a plain staircase leading to the third storey, an
elegant single room of 33m2, with plenty of light, plenty of space and another glass door, this one
opening on to the roof terrace.
To the left, a gallery, windows running the full length of a curved wall fill the space with sunlight and
the eye is drawn across terracotta roofs to the distant hills – there are two smaller rooms, one with
open fire and a sink – intended as a kitchen – the other is plumbed in preparation for use as a
bathroom; and a flight of steps, another way up to the roof.
The house requires further restoration, but the tough, remedial building work has already been
done; new roof and joists, insulation, new windows, new electrical wiring and plumbing – all
woodwork has been treated, many walls have been rendered. Bathroom furniture has not been
fitted, but has been purchased and is included in the asking price.
At the back of the house, on the lower ground floor is more storage, three separate rooms of
different sizes, combining to a total of 33m2; there is also a small garden, sheltered by a trellis of
vines; once planted with flowers and herbs or paved for a table, it’s the perfect place to sit and catch
the morning sun.
But that isn’t all – a few meters away is an enclosed vegetable plot of 70m2 complete with a 30m2
potting shed – the area is sheltered and very productive. And then there’s the land – a short distance
from the house, in total it runs to 4567m2. There is tree cover, including Cork Oaks, fruit trees and
Olives, rough grazing on the slopes and very fertile horticultural soil at the bottom of the valley. The
package includes a pair of beautiful stone ruins (10 and 20m2 respectively) – and most importantly,
there is water.
The location, a small mountain village in Central Portugal, an area now being actively promoted for
rural tourism, is bewitching. Twenty minutes’ drive from the busy market town of Arganil, through a
landscape full of surprises, you are in a different world; one of peace and beauty, but where
tradition and modern life sit comfortably together – it may be quiet, but it’s never boring. For
anyone seeking full time relocation, full services, shops, schools, a medical practise, a vet, are 15
kilometres away. As holiday accommodation the cities of Coimbra, Porto and Lisbon are all a
practical drive, as is the Silver Coast with its superb beaches and great surfing – it’s a region to
explore, very good restaurants, some very close, lovely wines and an interesting history. The locality
is ideal for hiking, biking and other outdoor pursuits, several river beaches are within easy reach, one
within walking distance; it’s a great place for photography and drawing, reforesting of the local
hillsides is leading to a greater diversity of native plants and wildlife.
Why The House of the Shooting Stars? On a warm summer night take a glass of something chilled to
the terrace, listen to the White Owl calling to his Mate and look up at the sky – you’ll understand.
Services
Electricity, water, fossa, local authority rubbish collection.
Heating by open fire/ wood stove
Telephone/Internet are available.
Bottled gas for cooking can be purchased locally, as can fire wood.
Asking Price: 60.000€
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