Casa Rural Santo Condestável

I didn’t like it. The rooms are very basic, the mattresses are awful, and it was really noisy. There weren’t enough towels. The room had two single beds, but there was only one duvet in the wardrobe, and it was a double. They don’t serve breakfast. Since there’s only one café in the village and its hours are very limited, it would be useful if the accommodation had at least a coffee machine and maybe a water machine too.

After dark, the narrow empty streets felt completely different, like stepping back in time. The hotel is inside a medieval fortress, and staying in a centuries-old house made for a special atmosphere. I visited in August 2019. The building has simple, tasteful décor, and the basic room was fine for one night. There’s no breakfast and no 24-hour reception.

It’s a genuine house inside the castle, with low doors, a hard bed and everything feeling old-fashioned. The bathroom, at least, has modern fittings. It’s a shame there wasn’t any shower gel. The service was friendly and helpful, and it was very peaceful, ideal for a rest.

The price was good for what you get, and the location inside the walls of Monsaraz lets you enjoy the village’s quiet. The only disappointment was being told at check-in that they wouldn’t be able to serve breakfast the next morning.