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The Apartments and Gardens of Florenca is a former working farmhouse, which
has been tastefully and professionally converted by the owner into
luxury flats, available for holiday and long term rentals near to Penela in
central Portugal. There are five self contained apartments in total,
three
single bedroom apartments on the upper floor and one single and one
double on the ground floor.
Both the lower courtyard garden and the
upper garden, where the private swimming pool is located, have been
designed by a local landscape gardener and include planters and
paved areas utilising stone from local quarries. These gardens also
have mood enhancing night-time illumination. There are also
citrus, olive and walnut trees. There is a large lawned area on the
upper garden, ideal for relaxing and soft play.
A further feature of
the upper garden is a living olive tree relic estimated to be 600
years old, which has been carefully cordoned off by the building of
a half circular stone wall and surrounded with greenery. There is a large barbecue of typical Portuguese design
for free client use.
Apartment 1 - Sleeps 2-3 (1 Bedroom)
Apartment 1 is a large open
plan studio apartment of some 42 square
metres with a
vaulted ceiling complete with some original
exposed structural timber beams.
There is a modern fully equipped kitchen
with dark blue quartz worktops, a large
American style fridge freezer, gas cooker
and hob, washing machine, microwave, hand
blender, dishwasher and deep stainless steel
kitchen sink.
This apartment has been cleverly colour
co-ordinated in shades of brown and the use
of matching timber and leather furniture
have been designed to create a peaceful
ambience for the occupant.
There is a large flat screen satellite
connected television (with an integrated DVD
player) showing all the standard British and
Freeview stations.
A good quality CD/radio is also available
for your use. A good selection of free to
hire books, CDs and DVDs are available.
The apartment is centrally heated and also
has a typical log burner.
The bathroom has a bath with shower over,
WC, hand basin and good storage facilities.
Apartment 2 - sleeps 2-3 (1 Bedroom)
This is a 4 roomed apartment
including a large en-suite bathroom complete
with bath and shower over, a 80 centimetre vanity
unit with a mirrored cupboard above with
integrated lighting.
The WC and matching bidet completes the set.
Apart from the bathroom floor which is
tiled, the floors are the original pitch
pine which have been stripped and varnished.
The two doors from the lounge
into the kitchen and bedroom are the
original and date from the early part of the
last century.
All of the ceilings are original timber butt
and bead and are edged at the wall abutments
with the original timber cornice. The
bedroom has a king sized high quality bed
with pine frame and headboard a pine
wardrobe, chest of drawers and a full length
wall hung mirror, complete the fittings. The
lounge enjoys a large flat screen television
with British standard and Freeview channels,
DVD and CD/radio.
The fitted kitchen has a mid blue quartz
worktop and is fitted with the same
appliances as apartment one.
Apartment 3 - Sleeps 2-3 (1 Bedroom)
Apartment 3 completes the
apartments on the upper floor and has the
benefit of a 60 square metre sun terrace and its own
gate to the upper garden. Terracotta type
ceramic tiles are laid throughout this
apartment.
There is a large open plan
lounge/kitchen/dining area with a fully
fitted high gloss kitchen with all of the
appliances previously listed.
Again the apartment is tastefully furnished
and has both central heating and a
traditional log burner. A king sized high
quality bed with pine base and headboard,
pine dresser, bedside table and fitted
wardrobes compliment the bedroom.
The en-suite bathroom has a large walk-in
shower, vanity unit with marble top and
integrated lighting and a WC.
Apartment 4 - Sleeps 1-2 (1 Bedroom)
Apartment 4 is located on the ground floor and opens directly onto
the lower courtyard garden. Matching floor tiles exist throughout
this apartment. There is a good sized open plan
lounge/kitchen/dining area with a black and white theme complete
with a large traditional log burner.
A fully fitted kitchen with black granite worktops, gas hob and
electric oven, full height fridge freezer, microwave, washing
machine, dishwasher, 4-slice toaster and hand blender. A flat screen
television with Freeview including all British terrestrial and
satellite stations, DVD player, music centre, large three seater
black leather sofa, a black glass and chrome coffee table, a glass
topped extendable dining table with four black leather covered
chairs. A number of black and white prints and house plants complete
this room.
The double bedroom and shower room are off the lobby area. The
bedroom has a double bed with a metal headboard and wooden frame,
full height sliding door fitted wardrobes, a pair of bedside tables
with matching lamps, a number of wall prints and a wall hung framed
mirror. The shower room is full height tiled throughout and enjoys a
large walk-in shower, vanity unit and bowl and WC.
Apartment 5 - Sleeps - 4-6
(2 Bedrooms)
Apartment
five completes the
apartments on the ground floor. This is the
largest of the apartments and has a floor
area of 180 square metres. It has two bedrooms,
two
bathrooms one of which is en-suite. The
en-suite bathroom has a large walk-in
shower, vanity unit with integrated lighting
and WC. The common bathroom has all of the
above plus a bath with shower over.
There is a large tastefully furnished
L-shaped lounge with two leather sofas a full sized oak dining table
and six leather covered chairs, a traditional style fully stocked
bookcase in polished cherry wood, a large wall hung flat screen
television and DVD player, some occasional timber chairs and
numerous prints and houseplants complete this room. Bedroom one has
a double bed, fitted wardrobes and bedside tables and lamps. Bedroom
two has two full sized single beds, a chest of drawers and bedside
tables and lamps. The fully fitted kitchen includes all of the
appliances previously mentioned, plus an American style
fridge/freezer complete with ice making and chilled and filtered
drinking water facilities. There is also a large pine dining table
with 6 matching chairs and a three-seater leather sofa. A large flat
screen television, DVD player and music centre completes the
fittings.
Notes on accommodation
Apartamentos e Jardims de Florenca are in a small working village
named Cumeeira which is a village typical of this part of Portugal.
The village comprises of a nursery and infant schools, a Mother
Church dated from the 15th century complete with time chimes, a day
centre for the elderly, a bar which doubles up as a restaurant at
lunch time and finally a cemetery. As far as we know we are the only
non-Portuguese in the entire village.
The property is detached and is a corner plot. The accommodation
exists over two floors and the property is fully walled and gated.
All apartments face the gardens at the rear of the property. A
double gated entrance exists at the front of the property directly
into the courtyard garden, from where all apartments can be
accessed. A second entrance is available via a single gate on the
East elevation which takes you directly into the upper garden, again
all apartments can be accessed from here. There is a flight of
stairs connecting both garden areas.
Accessibility
Access to the property has been described above. In our view access
for people with mobility problems is very dependent on which
apartments are available/selected and the degree of lack of
mobility, as the question of accessibility varies. There are few
problems once people are actually in the apartments. None of the
apartments would be suitable for wheelchair use. We would consider
it best to discuss these questions with us at the point of
enquiry/booking.
Outside
There is a private pool in the upper garden also a brick built
traditional style barbecue for client use, additionally there are a
couple of gas fired mobile barbecues available. There are 6 metal
garden tables each with 4 chairs, chair cushions and parasols.
Around the pool area there are about 10 assorted loungers and
reclining chairs. In the courtyard garden there is a garden set
consisting of a three seater sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table
under a covered and curtained gazebo. There is also a bistro table
with two chairs outside apartment four. Solely for resident use, we
have a traditional stone built cottage that we have converted into a
bar serving soft and alcoholic drinks, beverages and snacks, either
around the pool or in the evening. Sports TV is available in the bar
showing most of the popular English and European premiership games,
Champions league, Europa and domestic cups. Additionally a number of
significant Rugby union games and Formula 1 racing feature.
Coast/Beach
Some of the best beaches on the West coast are within a comfortable
hours drive from Cumeeira. We would be happy to advise and help you
with directions etc. This part of Portugal is blessed with Praia
Fluvials which loosely translated means River Beaches and these are
set in beautiful countryside and often have free barbecue
facilities. Main train stations exist close to Cumeeira at both
Coimbra B and Pombal from where you can easily travel to Lisbon and
Porto and all over Portugal.
Travel
To enjoy your stay in Cumeeira to the maximum car hire is essential.
This can be arranged at either Lisbon or Porto airports or locally
at Pombal. We would be happy to assist you. We are equidistant from
either Lisbon or Porto. The journey by car from either Airport is
two
hours. The same journey by a combination of public transport and
taxi is closer to three hours excluding waiting times for trains. For a
charge designed to cover our costs collection/return from Airports
or Stations can be arranged.
Distances
We are geographically fortunate here in Cumeeira because although we
exist within an absolute rural village setting, we are also close to
main road links and train stations. Lisbon or Porto is two hours away,
Óbidos and Peniche are 90 minutes, Fatima, Tomar, Aveiro, Batalha
and West coast beaches are within an hour. The historic city of
Coimbra (former capital city) 45 minutes and Town of Penela 20
minutes. Water theme parks at both Pombal and Castanheira de Pera
are within 30 minutes.
We have spent over three years transforming our property from the run
down farmhouse that it was, to its present form, it is something
that we are extremely proud of. Prior to buying this property we had
holidayed in Portugal on many occasions over the last 20 years. We
had learnt to be selective when booking villas and apartments
because although Portugal has a lot going for it in terms of sun,
food, history and beaches, we knew that on a self catering holiday
we were always going to spend a considerable time at our rented home
in order to enjoy the swimming pool, outside leisure and
eating. Adding to this the need to have clean accommodation,
efficient kitchens and bathrooms and the normal creature comforts of
home, were the main issues that drove the tick list.
We have used the same tick list here in Cumeeira and we feel that we
have fulfilled the maximum in our quest to make your stay with us as
pleasant and as memorable as possible, to welcome you back year after
year and to receive recommendations from you to your friends and
families.
This is our first season that we have started to market our
apartments and we are excited about the challenges ahead.
The nearest town to Cumeeira for supermarkets, banks and ATM
facilities, post office, doctors, hospital, bakers, pharmacy,
restaurants, greengrocers, hairdressers, nail parlours, and almost
all the of the necessities of 21st century living is in Avelar which
is a 10 minute journey by car. Similar facilities exist in both
Ansiao and Pombal both of which can be reached in 20-30 minutes
respectively.
Relatively inexpensive family orientated restaurants, exist in
abundance in surrounding areas. We are happy to help you with these
and to arrange transport to and from as required. There is a village
bar within a three minute walk which is also very popular for lunches on
Mondays to Fridays, a three course lunch plus wine, beer, water and
coffee is currently available for a fixed price of €6.
Changeover day
Our preferred change over day is on a Saturday. Where possible we can
be flexible about this in order to suit flights and your
preferences. Check out time will be 10am and check in time not
before 2pm, again our aim is to be as flexible as possible.
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