The Quinta das Lagrimas Hotel is a member of the Relais & Chateaux
chain, which brings together the most beautiful, independent Hotels de charme in
the world. A stay at Quinta das Lagrimas is an opportunity to enjoy the
"art de vivre", a combination of refinement and seduction, of
tradition and personality. All due respect is given to the five principles of
Relais & Chateaux: Character; Charm; Calm; Cuisine and Courtesy.
The environment, the atmosphere and the service at Hotel Quinta das Lagrimas,
all recreate the romanticism of past centuries, while offering all modern forms
of comfort. Individually decorated spacious Rooms, with direct access to the
garden, provide an atmosphere of privacy. The Sitting Rooms, balconies and the
Hotel library are both striking and intimate, providing perfect retiring places
for reading and conversation. Throughout the House, there are signs of the
illustrious visitors who have passed through, seeking memories of Pedro and
Ines. Among them the Duke of Wellington, who spent some time here during the
Napoleonic invasions, the Emperor of Brazil and the Kings D. Miguel I and D.
Carlos of Portugal. The hospitality with which these personalities were received
in the past is the same which the Hotel Quinta das Lagrimas shows to its guests
today.
HistoryThe Quinta das Lagrimas (Estate of Tears) is not just a refined Hotel
de Charme. Besides its comfortable Rooms, there is a past rich in history and a
medieval legend of love. It was here, in the XIVcentury, that the forbidden love
of Prince D. Pedro and a beautiful Galician damsel called Ines de Castro was
dramatically played out. According to the legend, it was in Quinta das Lagrimas
that Ines cried for the last time, while being pierced by the daggers of the
three noblemen who had been ordered to kill her, by D. Afonso IV, King of
Portugal. Her blood still stains the stones of the spring which sprangfrom her
tears.
The love of Pedro and Ines, which has survived through the centuries in the
works of authors such as Camoes, Victor Hugo and Ezra Pound, is today livelier
than ever in Quinta das Lagrimas.
The Quinta das Lagrimas is located in Coimbra, half-way between Lisbon
and Oporto, near Santa Clara-a-Velha Convent. At 4 km from the south exit of the
Lisbon-Oporto motorway, it is situated in the midst of 20 acres afforest and
gardens.
Quinta ito Lagrimas is an oasis of peace and tranquility in the centre of
Coimhra. Its 20 acres of gardens, enriched with rare and exotic species of
trees, form a botanic museum, which protects the guests from the outside world.
The city, with all its artistic treasures to be explored, opens up before the
gates of the Quinta. Coimbra, one of the most historic cities in the country,
formerly the capital of Portugal, has one of the oldest Universities in the
world.
The cuisine of Quinta das Lagrimas is inspired by the Manor's old
recipes, in order to create imaginative and tasty dishes, It is based on fresh
ingredients harvested in the region which are transformed into masterpieces of
traditional Portuguese gastronomy, with the knowledge and imagination of
the chefs. To complement this, there is a nine list composed of more than 200
vintages of the best nines from Portuguese vineyards, and also a few small
rarities for real connoisseurs.
