By Penelope Fernandez
Finding Space to Dream by the Atlantic
Just 15 minutes north of Porto and under ten from the airport, this coastal pocket is quietly special.
You can hear the ocean before you see it, and the land rolls open toward the dunes.
Then, tucked back just 800 meters from the shore, you find this beautiful farmhouse with a private 13,000 m² estate with all the makings of something extraordinary.
Thirteen thousand square meters sounds abstract until you’re standing in it. The expanse stretches wide and level, edged by trees and open sky; the kind of land that could take on many lives. You could imagine gardens spilling with lavender and olive trees, or perhaps a small vineyard, a kitchen garden, or even an orchard.
There’s structure, yes, the main residence, auxiliary buildings, and outbuildings with solid bones but what draws you in is the possibility of what it could be. It feels like a blank canvas that already knows its potential
Paths wind through sunlit clearings, patches of grass turn gold in the late afternoon light, and every so often, the breeze carries the faint tang of sea spray. It’s a place that invites plans and patience in equal measure.
Walking the land, I felt this superb juxtaposition: the wild Atlantic influence, the relaxed rural pace, yet all within reach of city life. On foot from the beach in minutes, and still surrounded by nature.
The estate isn’t just a home, it has what I’d call potential. The mention of licensing and registration means you could customize and make it uniquely yours. Plus, the listing suggests this could evolve into a boutique hospitality or rural-tourism project: blending sport (horse riding), leisure (beach, nature), accommodation and private living.
The main house is in the process of licensing and registration, but its layout already hints at comfort: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a generous living area, and a kitchen ready to be opened toward the views. It’s the kind of house that could be modernized into something clean and coastal or preserved with its current rustic warmth.
There’s something lovely about how the home sits low and unassuming against the land, as if it grew from it. Morning light floods the living areas; the evenings are quiet enough that you can hear the wind in the grass.
One of the property’s most surprising assets is its infrastructure. It was once built with equestrian living in mind, a series of stables, an indoor riding area, and a cluster of service spaces that include showers, storage, and a lounge area. But standing there, I couldn’t help seeing the potential beyond horses. The covered arena could transform into a multi-use pavilion for art, events, or yoga retreats. The stables could become creative studios, guest suites, or a farm-to-table dining concept. The scale is rare; large enough to reimagine, yet intimate enough to live comfortably within. You could create a family compound, a boutique hospitality project, or a personal retreat that blends privacy with proximity to the city and coast.
That’s what sets this property apart: its elasticity. It doesn’t dictate a single purpose.. It gives you room to define your own. Whether you dream of running a rural escape for travelers, cultivating land, or simply creating a home with soul and space, this land would hold it beautifully.
And then, there’s the beach. Eight hundred meters; an easy walk or quick bike ride and you’re on sand. The town of Lavra has this gentle rhythm to it that I found mesmerizing: fishermen, locals, cafés tucked behind dunes, and the Atlantic stretching endlessly west, Far beyond the eye can see.
It’s not remote, but it’s not too urban either.
What struck me wasn’t just the land or the layout; it was the quiet confidence of the home itself; standing tall amidst the sprawling acres of land. You can feel the love that was put into creating this home.
If you’ve been searching for a property that lets you create, not just live; this might be the one. It’s rare to find a place this close to the coast that still gives you this much open land and potential.
Whether you see yourself hosting family gatherings under the stars, running creative residencies, or simply enjoying the rhythm of coastal life; the Lavra farmhouse estate invites you to imagine what’s next. Perhaps your new home.
If you’d like to explore it in more detail, you can view the full listing below:
Atrium's Real Estate Agent
Contact Luciana Saraiva for more
information on this listing.
