Modern Monastery Living

We've been meeting with the Almeida Garrett Winery folks. The hotel they recommend to guests is the Pousada Convento Belmonte, a charming hotel in the Beira Region. Originally a 14th century monastery, they have done an amazing job of incorporating a new, very comfortable hotel into an existing historical treasure.  You don't have to wear a hair shirt here. Or take a vow of silence. You can picnic on the various decks overlooking the vale da Serra d'estrela (valley of the mountains of the stars) or hang out in the central cloister and sip on a house wine...from the nearby Almeida Garrett winery...of course.