Casa Fortunato Taking their talents from their original, namesake Lisbon property - a design world darling - to the historically affluent port community of Alcácer do Sal, the Casa Fortunato design duo have successfully launched their second act with this seductive, 100-year-old townhome. An architectural treasure trove, the exclusive, six-bedroom hotel/guesthouse reads more luxury residence than village inn, a marriage of antiques and post-modern furnishings that's a who’s who of design icons. The centenary villa’s refined bones (wood floors and ceilings, salvaged tiling, original shutters and beams, and white-on-white walls) have been updated to shine, revived by tufted rugs, jewel-toned textiles, and conversation-starting artworks, some by Filipa’s grandmother. Attention-grabbers across the six bedrooms, snug dining room, and the courtyard garden/plunge pool include curated works by local craftspeople, vivid rugs sourced during travels, and standout lighting - table lamps, pendants, lanterns - by Flos, Noguchi, and Foscarini. Other amenities include small-plate-styled dining and an honesty bar, with eight to 10 daily offerings inspired by the owners’ travels, prepared with organic ingredients, and enjoyed surrounded by citrus trees in the garden or around the dining table by Portugal’s own Daciano da Costa.

Around - Set on the banks of the Sado River, the rural Portuguese city of Alcácer do Sal is approximately 30 minutes from Comporta and the beaches of the Tróia Peninsula, known for their powdery sands backed by forests and dense scrub, giving the turquoise coves their coveted, lost-on-a-desert island vibes. Rice paddies and a nature reserve surround the small urban community for miles in every direction beyond its sweet, cobbled streets, shaded alleys, and tumble of whitewashed boxy homes that climb up from the riverbanks. Boats bob along the waterfront, and the town is one of Portugal’s oldest settlements, dating from Neolithic times, passing through Greek, Phoenician and Roman eras, too. Because of its privileged location on the river, the community thrived during Roman times, an important port city and site of the town’s namesake salt trade. The city’s narrow streets and picturesque alleys all lead uphill to the dominant castle set on high, an 8th-century Moorish fort of some 30 lookout towers, later conquered by Crusaders and the Portuguese King Afonso II. Within this fertile river delta, flamingos flock, and the protected estuary is also home to dolphins and abundant bird life. The architectural ensemble of Roman, Islamic and Renaissance architecture makes the small city a unique gem to explore. The region has a thriving crafts tradition as well, with embroiderers and traditional makers of the local pinhoada confections found in small shops within the city’s cobbled streets.

Location - Alcacer do Sal, Setúbal, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon (50 minutes)

Best time to visit - April to October