experience
There’s plenty to explore — or nothing you have to do at all. Around the quinta, you can walk through olive groves and quiet hills, practice yoga under the trees, or take a swim in the pool or nearby rivers and lakes.
There are hidden places of silence for meditation or rest, and small paths that invite slow wandering. If you feel like a change of scenery, you can take a day trip to local villages, markets, or mountain trails — and still return to the stillness of this place by evening.
on the farm
Life on the quinta is still unfolding — we are learning as we go, caring for the trees, the soil, and the small garden that feeds us. If you enjoy working with your hands, you’re welcome to join in. There is always something simple to do: planting, watering, gathering herbs, or pruning trees.
It’s not work in a hurry, but a way of being part of this place — of grounding, learning, and sharing the rhythm of the land together.
by the pool
When the days grow hot, the small plunge pool is a perfect place to slow down. Fed by fresh water and surrounded by stone and green, it’s a quiet spot to float, watch the sky, and listen to the cicadas.
Whether you dip in after a morning walk or cool off in the late afternoon, the water brings you right back to the present — refreshed, awake, and at ease.
stillness
A quieter life is a rare gift — a way of seeing more clearly, of hearing more deeply, of being truly here.
Stillness at Chão da Mina is not the absence of sound, but the presence of peace. It’s the gentle art of doing less, of allowing yourself to linger, to dream, to be nourished by silence.
You can learn how to simply be here: unhurried, grounded and at ease.
the village of são miguel d’acha
São Miguel d’Acha (≈ 500 inhabitants) is a small, steeped-in-history village in the parish of the same name, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova.
The village has roots reaching back to Roman times with archaeological remains, traditional granite houses, narrow stone streets, ancient chapels and a strong local culture — religious festivals, traditional crafts, and a sense of communion with the land.
There are local amenities (small shops, cafés, local markets), but you’ll feel you’ve stepped into a gentler rhythm: mornings with birdsong, evenings with stars.
idanha-a-nova
Idanha-a-Nova is a large and diverse municipality in central Portugal, rich in natural, historical, and cultural layers. It is part of UNESCO-designated territories: a Biosphere Reserve, a Geopark (Naturtejo), and recognised for its cultural creativity.
Within the municipality you’ll find medieval walls, rural heritage, natural water bodies (such as dams and streams), and festivals that bring communities together. It is both remote and alive — remote in quiet, alive in tradition.
the region
The wider region around Chão da Mina is characterized by rolling agricultural landscapes, olive groves, cork oaks, orchards, pasture and forest.
There are marked routes and paths for hikers and mountain bikers, especially through the Serra da Gardunha (see below).
You’ll encounter protected landscape areas, charming rural roads, small rivers or seasonal streams, and viewpoints looking over hills and valleys. The region’s peace is its beauty, and its biodiversity quietly shows itself in birdlife, wildflowers and the slower cycles of nature.
The cities of Castelo Branco, Covilhã and Fundão are charming, and well worth a visit!
the mountains
Both Serra da Gardunha and Serra da Estrala lie in full view from Chão da Mina.
Serra da Gardunha offers walking, trail-running, and mountain biking paths through mixed forest, citrus or cherry orchards (depending on season), and rustic villages. For example, the PR1 – Rota da Gardunha (≈ 15-16 km) is a moderate trail that shows the region’s rugged charm.
Serra da Estrela is further afield but more dramatic: the highest mountain chain in continental Portugal. Here you find emblematic trails like the Rota de Floresta (PR12), Rota das Faias (PR13), circuits through glacial valleys, forests of beech trees, and spectacular spring or autumn colours. You can plan day-trips into Estrela to hike, enjoy nature, even snow in winter if the timing is right.