Excellent location. The luggage trolley was broken (like much of this under invested hotel) but the staff couldn't have been more helpful going out of their way to help with a considerable luggage. We were in a heat wave and couldn't leave cases of wine in the car. Dinner was superb with the delightful Zak, the maitre d, recommending a pork dish with prawns. This was the nicest piece of pork I've ever experienced having been marinaded for some time and cooked in an exquisite sauce. The bed was comfortable and there was a nice wide bath. Excellent breakfast.

There was plenty of car parking but why not have a shaded area for vehicles? The car baked in the heatwave! The quadrangle was a nice area to sit but a, long overdue, coat of paint, some water in the water feature, some greenery and a few ornaments would transform this tired area into a very pleasant area. Come on Mr Pestana, it's time to plough some investment in here!

It’s a unique opportunity to spend the night in a real castle—along with the plusses of spacious room, comfortable bed, nice bathroom with tub, comfy sitting area, and quiet at night. The breakfast was wonderful and generous. Service was efficient and friendly. 10 minute walk down into town for good restaurants and beautiful river view. The views from the castle are great—whether from your room or the outside ramparts or even the parking lot. (Very easy, free, and convenient parking available.) Highly recommend and we would love to return some day.

The room was large and comfortable. The bathroom was clean and spacious. The beds were very comfortable and the bed linens were the luxurious. The whole castle is a museum and you can wander freely. They did an amazing restoration job. Don't forget to visit the cript!

The one little tiny con was we slept in 3 different bed (2 adults one child). The main one was two single beds adjoined together but made as two beds and not one marital bed. But we survived for one night. The restaurant was ok. The staff was very nice but the menu is limited and pretty expensive. The breakfast was very good.

This is a beautiful hotel from a converted structure. It has been extremely well done, maintaining the history of the place whilst being a very nice hotel. The breakfast was excellent, although missed out on porridge (although that might just be a local thing). Cooked or cold was offered with good selections. The coffee was nice. The room exceeded my expectations. It was larger than I was expecting and comfortable. There is a fridge available for use with a selection of drinks. We did not try the TV. The views were amazing, the bed large and comfortable and the bathroom spacious and well decorated. The air-con did not dry out the whole room and actually worked well in maintaining a comfortable temperature. I mention this here as it seems to be the only hotel I have stayed in that really does this well! The hotel also provided a pretty decent cot for our 1yo son too which was a bonus. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and still polite even when we managed to lock ourselves out of our room. I would definitely stay here again.

Very minor points really. The lack of oats at the breakfast bar was a little irritating. Some of the lights in the room probably would not have passed a safety inspection. They were held together with sellotape. A slight concern when you have a 1yo baby running around like a lunatic. The door locking system is somewhat out of date. Using a physical key and a latched door. This means it is VERY easy to lock yourself out of the room and even more of an issue if you leave the key in the door on the wrong side as we did. The staff had to get maintenance to force the lock in the end. I appreciate we should have been more careful, however I imagine that this happens an awful lot.

We loved the idea of staying at this castle/convent and cycled in from quite a distance away . The welcome was excellent and efficient . This hotel is really rather special but not as you might think. Its not a spa or super modern but It's atmosphere , history and elegance all take a while to permeate and then it suddenly occurs to you that you are relaxed , tranquil and enjoying the peace that this place has at its heart . It's a very special place and on a day off we hung around the pool and strolled a little way down the hill for coffee and snacks . The staff work hard to make it pleasant and the surrounds are very nice with details and history in every corner. Thanks especially to Carla on reception for her attention to details on our behalf . The kitchen and dining hall staff work very long hours and we ate both breakfast and dinner in the restaurant . Breakfast was terrific and dinner elegantly executed by Alfonso Luis front of house and the chef. Delicious food served in a discrete and classy way . I keep thinking about staying there again , it really touched me .

I wasn't expecting a paid for minibar for things like water and the bar wasn't open while we were there . Luckily there are some nice cafes and restaurants nearby without having to go all the way down into town . So not really a problem .

It was just incredible. The breakfast was satisfactory and cute, the location was just breathtaking and it's a really incredible experience to be staying in an old castle, we feel very blessed. At check-in, the receptionist was very attentive -- We had booked 2 nights in separate bookings and she was able to bump us up to a suite to avoid us having to change rooms during our stay. The wifi reaches the garden/pool area which was convenient to get work done without having to stay inside.

The hotel was very unusual having a museum in the cellar beneath it which we found very interesting. This is open to the public and has a totally separate entrance. The hotel being built in a fortified setting which was derelict before the hotel was built and is a mixture of both modern and old parts is unusual in having a walk around some of the outer battlements overlooking the gardens. The restaurant was very good and we enjoyed both dinner and breakfast. As with many of the pousadas we would liked to have stayed longer but would consider another visit to this hotel as we felt the we did not see all that the area had to offer

When we first saw the hotel on the hill in the distance we were blown away! Beautiful exterior and interior, with amazing views over the town. Fransico at reception gave us an excellent recommendation for lunch in town - Salinas - amazing tapas! The evening meal and breakfast at the Castelo were delicious. It was a wonderfully relaxing stay, we only we only wish we could have stayed more than 1 night!

The water in the shower was never hot.

Reception was great, the room was excellent and the bed perfect. The view from our room was great. We really loved the welcome present (lots of dog treats) for our dog Fizzy. The food was delicious and our waiter outstanding. We loved every minute and will be back.

Nothing to report.

Living like a king in a castle. Although it was 36 oC outside, indoors it was comfortable. Sitting by the pool in the shadows was great too. The receptionist gave private attention and was very nice, she made me feel welcome.