Farol Design Hotel: Cascais, Portugal

The town of Cascais huddles around a graceful bay, ringed with palacios and townhouses.

Downtown welcomes with elegant shopping streets, esplanades and a vista of fishing boats and yachts afloat on the sea.

The charm of the old part of town with its small houses, narrow alleys and cobbled streets is a reminder of a past age.

In the centre of the old town, next to the marina, is Farol Design Hotel - a daring architectural project.

A remodeled 19th century mansion, formerly owned by the Count of Cabral, has been carefully combined with a contemporary interior.

The result is a harmonious bridge in time.

The Estoril Coast, on which Farol is situated, enjoys a privileged climate.

Its fine sandy beaches dot the shore, and lush countryside climbs uphill towards the Sintra mountains.

Fine brasserie dining and a saltwater pool allow guests at the Farol Design Hotel to live the local al fresco life such a landscape offers.

Relaxed, surrounded by the Atlantic breeze, one can practically touch the sea.