São Lourenço do Barrocal 5.15

São Lourenço do Barrocal is a 780-hectare estate in the stunning Alentejo region of Portugal. Bordering Alqueva lake, the estate spans olive groves, vineyards and meadows, as well as the remarkable stone formations from which it takes its name.

Inside a Dark Sky Reserve, it is one of the best places in the world to watch the stars and sky at night. It is a remarkable place to embrace nature, no matter what time of the day, offering trails for walks and hikes, off the beaten tracks for cycling, more than 100 species of birds to watch and scenic picnic locations.

Seventh-generation family-owned, the property (including a once-bustling farming village) is being sensitively transformed into a rural retreat, comprising a five-star hotel of understated luxury, its own winery, a farm to table restaurant and organic vegetable garden, a farm shop and a spa by Susanne Kaufmann.

All of this continuing to thrive as a working farm, producing olive oil from centenary olive trees, its own brand of single-estate wines, certified organic cattle, and oats.