The beauty of the landscapes, the warm welcome, the personalised quality service, the excellence of the cuisine and experiences involving deep contact with the essence of the places win over visitors to the Aldeias do Xisto, who leave with the desire to return. Travellers from all over the country and the world visit and take full advantage of everything the land has to offer. They are people with different tastes, lives and perspectives, but with at least one thing in common: they give themselves up to the beauty of the landscapes, the warm welcome, the food and wine, the local ways and customs and they all leave with the desire to return one day.

The tranquillity of the places and communion with nature, as praised by Alfredo Fernandes, who stayed at Casa do Forno, in Vilar dos Condes, are two qualities that immediately come to mind when pondering the Aldeias do Xisto. Here, as another guest staying at the same place tells us, “the silence is broken only by the stream babbling outside and the birds singing”.The flora and fauna intensify the area’s richness, constantly drawing in visitors and presenting us with unforgettable experiences. Gabriela Oliveira, staying at the Casa Mãe at Mountain Whisper, in the Aldeia do Xisto of Gondramaz, confirms this, having received a warm welcome from “two little foxes”. Now in the Aldeia do Xisto of Janeiro de Cima, it was Brida, Maria Tereza Luís’ little dog, who was welcomed at the Casa de Janeiro, which allows pets. “A plus for our family”, and she also adds that they were “two very good days spent with the family”. The beauty of the villages and the surrounding landscapes stay in your memory. “Arriving there after a week’s work, at night, feeling welcomed as if we were part of the place, was like immediately entering another dimension. I think this is what we are all looking for at some point. Talasnal is a place to mark on the map”, testifies António Maria Quintas, who, for a few days, made Casa Lausus his home.

Pampering, comfort and a family atmosphere

Be it Rural Tourism, Local Lodging, Hotel or Camping, our lodgings promise you comfort, beauty and a family atmosphere. It is like this at the Casas do Couratão, Pessegueiro, Pampilhosa da Serra, at Sotam Country House, in Vila Nova do Ceira, at Xisto Camping, in the Aldeia do Xisto of Janeiro de Baixo, at Camping Oleiros, in Casa do Zé Sapateiro, in the Aldeia do Xisto of Ferraria de São João, or at Casas dos Carregais, where Carla Alves also highlights getting on “excellently” with the locals.
 

The hosts welcome guests with a level of indulgence that really makes a difference: At the Casas de Água Formosa, in the Aldeia do Xisto that lends them its name, visitors will be delighted by sponge cake, coconut tarts and broa (traditional Portuguese cornbread baked in a wood-fired oven). “Fresh bread rolls in the morning” won over Ana Cal, who stayed at Casal Frias, Pousaflores, in the county of Ansião. The hosts’ friendliness, attentiveness and availability when sharing tips and suggestions for putting together a complete itinerary are just some of the pluses pointed out by Élia Mira, who stayed at the Casa Princesa Peralta, in the Aldeia do Xisto of Talasnal, and also by the various guests who stayed at the Villa Pampilhosa Hotel and the Convento da Sertã Hotel.
 

Gastronomic delights and unique experiences

What’s more, in the Aldeias do Xisto, the traditional Portuguese saying “winning over through the stomach” rings truer than ever. A rich, diverse and tasty cuisine imbues the senses with flavours that are impossible to forget. In our partner restaurants you will find more than a handful of traditional delicacies, often cooked in typical wood-fired ovens, taking you on a journey back to simpler times. The “fantastic” Tasting Menu of the O Buke restaurant, in Pampilhosa da Serra, is just one of the options available on our booking platform.

In addition to accommodation and restaurants, Bookinxisto also offers a range of suggestions that invite you to discover some of the most charming corners of Portugal’s Central Region. River Walking - Water Trail in Eireira, offered by Epic Land, is “a unique experience” and Origem Safaris’ 4x4 Safari - Half Day, promises “a fantastic visit”. If you are looking for arts activities, then you should point your compass towards the Cerdeira - Home for Creativity in the Aldeia do Xisto village of Cerdeira. Throughout the year, there are workshops and courses that will appeal to your creativity and provide relaxing family time. “It was a great way to spend the afternoon together! A very cosy atmosphere, in a very inspiring place”, are some of the comments we have received about the Ceramic Figures workshop.

It is all these elements that make visiting the Aldeias do Xisto “a home from home”, as described by Marta Trigueiro, who ayed at the Casa da Natália, in Amiosinho, Góis. An idea also emphasised by Inês Caramelo, who was welcomed “with open arms” at the Xisto Sentido, located in the Aldeia do Xisto, Martim Branco. At Casa Cimeira in the Aldeia do Xisto of Candal, Tomé Gomes felt at home “from the moment we opened the door”. The same can be said of the Casa da Urze in the Aldeia do Xisto of Talasnal. So it is hardly surprising that when it’s time to leave, as happens at Casa de Santo Antão, in Padrões, the guests are “already thinking about coming back soon”.

Bookinxisto, a fair trade booking platform

In addition to gathering the best accommodation, the tastiest meals and the most surprising experiences all under one roof, Bookinxisto operates on a fair trade basis, without intermediaries or commissions. In this way, the value of your bookings goes directly and in full to our partners. For this reason, it is the best site to visit when planning your visit to the 27 Aldeias do Xisto. Bookinxisto allows payment through an ATM Cashpoint payment reference or credit card, without any commission charges or extras and is also available for smartphones.

It is available worldwide from the website VisitPortugal.