Quinta Sao Bento and Quinta da Matalva, Tourist attraction and villa in Sintra, Portugal
Quinta Sao Bento and Quinta da Matalva are two historic country houses in Sintra, Portugal, forming a single estate with gardens, terraces, and a swimming pool. Sao Bento has thick stone walls and vaulted ceilings, while Quinta da Matalva consists of a main house and a cottage linked by a covered colonnade.
The property dates back to a 16th-century monastery and later served as a manor house for several generations. The Bryers family acquired it in 1981 and spent roughly 20 years restoring it while keeping its original stone features.
The interior of Sao Bento is filled with Portuguese antiques, European paintings, and Asian ceramics collected by the owners over the years. This mix gives the house a personal feel that goes beyond a typical historic property.
The estate sits about 45 minutes from Lisbon in a quiet part of Sintra, within reach of the town's main sights. The terraces face the surrounding forest and offer views toward Monserrate palace and the Atlantic, so a walk around the grounds is worth the time.
The estate has a small restored chapel that still shows the original stonework from its time as a monastery. It sits on the grounds and can be visited, but many guests walk past it without stopping.
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