“Monte da Esperanca” is a small-scale hotel on the edge of the village of Esperança, near the Portuguese-Spanish border. We stayed here for 4 nights in April during a tour of central Portugal. The hotel is very quietly located. We had a tasteful twin room with comfortable beds, a desk, a large wardrobe, a small refrigerator and a spacious bathroom with a bath and an outdoor shower. We did not use the beautiful swimming pool this early in the spring. But our neighbors had a lot of fun swimming in the cold water. The breakfast was limited, as this is also a very small hotel, but the products were of excellent quality. I may not have had better freshly squeezed orange juice in my life. But the ham and cheese were also excellent and I think the cake was home-baked. We also received scrambled eggs and fried bacon, croissants and bread, yogurt and fresh fruit every morning. The ladies serving were extremely friendly and caring. From this hotel we made beautiful day trips by car: in the south we visited "Elvas" and "Vila Viçosa" and in the north the tourist fortress town "Marvão" and the very pleasant town "Castelo de Vide", both located in the extensive "Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede" of which Esperança is also part. The last day we took a walk from the hotel. In the village of Esperança you will find a large map at the post office with the circular walk "PR1 ARR" of 15 km in 5:30 hours. It is a beautiful walk that takes you through this beautiful landscape with countless cork oaks, olive trees, hills, in the spring along flower meadows, flocks of sheep and also vultures that circle in the air. The signage is excellent. Only once, in the hamlet of «Marco», a signpost is missing. Here you have to turn right before the very first house. During the walk you will also come to the Spanish border and also to special petroglyphs, the “Pinturas Rupestres”. At the end of the walk you can have a drink on one of the café terraces in the village of Esperança. In the nice town of "Arronches", about 10 km southwest of Esperança, you will find several good and friendly and some excellent restaurants. In Arronches you will also find cafes, bars, small supermarkets, shops, a pharmacy and more. We enjoyed our stay at “Monte da Esperanca”. Hopefully we will come back again, also because of the beautiful surroundings. And they also have a very sweet, large dog at the hotel.
Original TextTranslation provided by Google