Aquapura Douro Valley Article Published: 14:10 02/03/2009 Article Classification: Aquapura Douro Valley
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According to Holly Kirkwood of Country Life....

Portugal has sometimes been regarded as Spain’s poorer neighbour, the quiet Iberian that gave us port wine and Henry the Navigator. But what many miss is the tremendous variety that exists in the country, both in terms of culture and terrain. Yes, the south is blessed with many secluded white, sandy beaches and a fantastic climate, but as you head north, the scenery becomes verdant as it metamorphoses into the spectacular wine-growing regions north of Lisbon.

Importantly, all of it feels a world away from busy tourist destinations in the more established areas of Europe, and discerning property buyers look to Portugal for its peace and seclusion. House prices in Portugal tend to rise steadily, as opposed to the wild fluctuations of some other European markets.

The careful approach to development quality rather than quantity keeps pace with demand, unlike trends in neighbouring Spain, making observers believe that Portugal is a safer investment in the mid to long term. After sluggish price increases between late 2006 and early 2007, price growth picked up in the first quarter of 2008 to reach 3.8%—now comparable with that of Spain. Knight Frank has just cited the Silver Coast as one of the top 10 prime areas in the world to watch for price growth, stating: The area enjoys a high level of seclusion unlikely to be broken by lower-quality developments.’

Much of the second-home market in Portugal is driven by demand from British, Irish and Scandinavian buyers, and most are keen to move to the Algarve for the climate and the sandy beaches that pepper the southern coastline. One of the best-known (and most expensive) areas here is buzzy Quinta do Lago, and a new project designed to bring some of the glamour of South Beach and Hollywood to the Algarve is just getting under way.
Wine and port lovers could be tempted to buy a converted villa in a dramatic Unesco World Heritage site. Aquapura is a spa hotel set high in the hills of the Douro Valley, an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Porto. The hotel itself is only a year old and has raised the bar for understated spa luxury.

Aquapura has now converted several old estate buildings into villas, some down on the banks of the Douro itself, and others set back into the vine-covered hills. This area is perfect for walking, for wine lovers, and for relaxation, and offers a fantastic counterpoint to the more extravagant feel of the south.

Villas start at €435,000 and go up to around €1m and are being sold through Olive Tree International on 0845 257 0227