Palace Hotel do Bussaco

In this beautiful palace of Bucaco I was many times before. It lies 2 km from the Baths of Luso (central Portugal) on the top of a hill that serves as a nature park called "The Enchanted Forest". Currently the Palace is a 5 star hotel with 62 rooms with bathroom, telephone, TV, AC, restaurant, bars, lounges, chapel, and gardens, lovely gardens that can be visited by anyone in the imposing altar nature (105 has walled) where this former Carmelite monastery is now a hotel. I have to say that I never stayed there, but if you have visited many times at different times of the year, and although it is now a bit neglected it has a mosaic in one of its balconies and striking architecture.

Despite sounding a bit cheesy, this place is like something from a fairy tale. It's a neo-Manueline palace, the only one in the world, and was built by Portuguese kings at the end of the 19th century as a rest house. The palace is decorated with paintings of Portugal's historical past, tiles, marble staircases, tapestries, paintings and art work from some of the most notable Portuguese artists. Located north of Coimbra, between Lisbon and Porto, it's surrounded by formal gardens in the heart of the magnificent Bussaco National Forest, that spans 105 hectares. It has been under the management of the Alexandre de Almeida family since 1917.

Outside it is really impressive, but inside it is from the 70s. It is reflected in the photos. It compensates to stay at the hotel or not according to what you give more importance: if you care more about amazing scenery and a beautiful palace, I recommend the hotel, if you want a modern room, good TV and air conditioning, this may not be YOUR hotel.

Busaco Palace is a hidden gem. You enter through Athena, and it is as if entering a very special place with tiled corridors where you would run around looking for Agatha Christie, enjoy some English in the classroom, discovering the sights at the end of the spiral staircase, breakfast in the pavilion, test your wine in the cellar .... walk in the light of the moon through the gardens to get lost ... Bussaco is a feast for the senses