Portugal

A pool with a view – but without any chemicals at Quinta Vale Porcacho

At the Bed and Breakfast Quinta Vale Porcacho in the Beiras, the centre of Portugal, you can plunge into a natural pool free of chlorine, salt or any other chemicals.

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho

Quinta Vale Porcacho (Tábua) is situated on the green slopes of the hills along the river Mondego with a tremendous view at the Serra do Caramulo. What is special about this place is that you can enjoy this view from their own natural infinity pool. The pool of all together 200 m2 is a natural outdoor pool completely free of chlorine, salt or any other chemicals. It is integrated in the surrounding rocks and has a spectacular view over the vally of the river Mondego and the Serra do caramulo. The water of the pool is taken from the establishment’s on well. The secret of the pool is the filtering and the circulation of the water. The first filtering takes place in three bassins filled with a kind of lava stone. From there the water is pumped to the area with special plants, where the second natural filtering takes place. The plants supply the water with oxygen and the result is a clear, clean and healthy swimming area. A biologist who tests the water on a regular bases is always satisfied with the quality of it.

Our ecological pool is one of the most appreciated attractions of our quinta and is a very good expression of our green philosophy!

- Jan van Loon, Quinta Vale Porcacho

But the accommodation has even more to offer. Quinta Vale Porcacho is a perfect combination of an ecological Bed and Breakfast and a biological farm with comfortable and luxurious rooms and healthy food. They produce biological oranges, oliveoil, wine and various fruits like strawberry, raspberry, apples and pears.  All the products of the quinta are served in breakfast, lunch or dinner. Since 2018, they have also intensified their biological vegetable garden. 50% of their fruits and vegetables are grown on the premises of the quinta. In five years, they want to increase this percentage to 80%!

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho

Copyright: Quinta Vale Porcacho


 

Green Key Hotel in Lisbon commits to sustainability and solidarity

The newly awarded Green Key hotel NEYA Lisboa Hotel in Lisbon is proud to announce their commitment attached to their strap line “sustainability has another meaning".

NEYA Lisboa Hotel has just opened one year ago. When it was under construction they followed the GK criteria in order to comply with them since the very beginning. So being awarded the Green Key for their first edition in 2014, this hotel is proud to announce all their commitment attached to their strap line “sustainability has another meaning”.  The hotel has bikes for the guests and staff (including an area in the parking), it has a shopping policy using only national brands, such as for foods and coffee, but also on the furniture. It has solar panels for energy production.  

NEYA Lisboa Hotel contributes to the reduction of negative environmental impact by all practical and sustainable solutions in the daily operations, but also through collaboration/partnerships with organizations that share the same ideals. By collaborating with the 'Cubes of Sustainability', in partnership with the Floresta Unida Foundation, the NEYA Lisboa Hotel commits to preserve the environment and biodiversity. The project aims to the protection of forests by planting trees. Hotel guests can buy such a cube, which holds a tree seed inside, and for every cube that has been sold the Floresta Unida Foundation plants one tree. Through this voluntary awareness campaign, the hotel promotes environmental responsibility on everyone to reduce his environmental footprint.

But the hotel also engages in a social project. The hotel, which is located in front of a pediatric hospital, has two bedrooms available for families that lack the financial ability to follow their children at the hospital and live far from Lisbon.