In the former place of Poiso, later designated as Pouso, a place to recover strength, after the breakaways that allow reaching “this wonderful world”, Quinta da Pousada was consolidated, in Cumieira – Santa Marta de Penaguião, in a modernized toponym to instill in travelers the offer of a place to rest, in the tiring journeys on the so-called Pombalina Road on which another was built, from the second half of the 18th century, and where practically no other was built until the middle of the following century, today integrated in National Road No. 2, which crosses Portugal from North to South.
The first league of the Vila Real – Régua road would only be inaugurated in 1855, in the midst of Regeneration, thirty years after the death of the reference figure related to the property, António Teixeira Rebelo, born in Silhão, parish of Cumieira, a December 17, 1750, son of a modest family dedicated to agriculture. At the age of 14, he was incorporated into the Artillery Regiment of Valença, having entered the Royal Navy Academy (1780) where he was a brilliant student, beginning a military career in all titles, exemplary. As the service record of this soldier is extensive, we limit ourselves to mentioning the essentials. He was Minister of State for War Affairs, the founder (1813) and first director of the Royal Military College (Colegio Militar). He signed several works presented at the Royal Maritime Military and Geographic Society, of which he was a distinguished member. António Teixeira Rebelo rose all the ranks of the military hierarchy, and reached the top (general), eventually deserving the honorary title of marshal, in 1820, dying in Lisbon on 6 October 1825.
Set in a paradisiacal place, Quinta da Pousada, at the top of strenuous climbs, was a place where travelers could rest, or put down the carriage and enjoy sleep and food, taking the opportunity to support the animals’ belly, and/or improve the worn-out horseshoes in the shale.
It would be one of the stages of stopover of the stage, which ensured the transport of mail and passengers in the Douro region, transport interrupted in 1804 due to the French invasions and subsequent civil war, only resumed many years later. A business where Manuel Alves da Silva Cosme, owner of Nova Viação do Minho and Douro, who acquired, in 1886, Nova Viação Transmontana, with a career between Régua and Chaves, with an office in Largo Luís de, marked his position in the late 19th century. Camões, in Vila Real. Later, when the railway (the Corgo line began operating in 1906) and later the automobile itself began to decline the business of stagecoach travel, he founded Viação Cosme, which, among other activities, rented trains. for certain special occasions such as weddings, parties, funerals, etc.
The property, which remained in the possession of the Teixeira Rebelo family for many years, with news that its owners, in the seventies of the 20th century, still lived, among other assets, from the income of the “Quinta de Pousada”, reinforces the information that Manuel Monteiro, gives in his work “O Douro”, mentioning that his wineries, for the preparation of a hundred barrels, were modern.
Quinta da Pousada, now with new owners, maintains the spirit of coexistence of the old Poiso and from where visitors perched on the plateau over the river Aguilhão, enjoy a pleasant rest and from there they can observe the legend of the enchanted Moorish woman who, as she says, , “appeared seated at a table on the waters of that river”.
A tourist destination of choice for all those who want to explore vineyards and wine, with revealing traits of the heritage built hard by Douro farmers. With a location that allows guests to have unique contact with the property’s vineyards, a space that breathes tradition, where you can enjoy a unique experience.
Wine lovers can find a range of wine tourism activities, where they can taste the traditional fortified wine and other wines from the Douro region, in addition to delighting themselves with olive oil and the region’s traditional sweets.