This colourful Alentejo manor is ripe for revival

Peer beyond the peeling walls of this 19th-century Portuguese manor house in Alentejo, and there’s an intriguing renovation project with commercial possibility.

Located in Reguengos de Monseraz, Evora, the rural complex dates from the 1830s and comprises three structures: two residential buildings and a storage building. The manor house is the jewel of the compound, with an imposing marble staircase connecting two floors of living spaces, including a chapel with frescoed walls.

Rooms on the first floor have handmade fireplaces, including an Alentejo chimney decorated with ornate Viúva Lamego azulejos (decorative tiles distinct to this region). Solid wood floors are laid across the Alentejo property, and rooms have towering ceilings painted with elaborate decorative motifs and flourishes.

Step outside and across the courtyard is a second building, accessed from the garden, that comprises 12 rooms. Meanwhile, the 180 sq m storage ‘warehouse’ offers carte blanche conversion.

The Alentejo property is proving popular on our Instagram account, TheSpacesforsale, and is listed via WGP Advisors for €451,000. It will need a complete survey and a lot of elbow grease to make it sparkle again. Still, its appeal is very apparent: it boasts good bones, a wealth of period features and plenty of space for a potential hospitality business or private residence with guest accommodation (all subject to planning, of course).

The manor is located within the historic streets of Reguengos de Monseraz, very close to Monsaraz. While technically separate entities, the towns overlap and face the border with Spain, sharing a long history of fortification.

Wandering through the cobblestone streets of Reguengos de Monseraz, its historic buildings are ‘frozen in time’, many dating back to the medieval period and 16th century, including the Church of São Sebastião, which showcases the highly decorative Manueline style of architecture, blending Gothic and early Renaissance elements. As such, cultural heritage and history are big draws, alongside Alentejo’s wine and cork industries and stunning vistas of the plains.