Horta das Laranjas

Horta das Laranjas is a small local accommodation project located in the heart of Serpa, Alentejo, combining two one- and two-bedroom apartments on a 150m² plot with a working organic vegetable garden and a personal textile art practice. The project grew out of lived experience on a permaculture farm ('monte'), and today invites guests to take part in the daily rhythm of the garden — sowing, harvesting and cooking with fresh, seasonal, organic vegetables and herbs, as well as picking oranges from the property's orange trees to make fresh juice or aromatic teas. The site benefits from a unique location within the city, where centuries-old irrigation heritage — the Arab-era 'Nora' waterwheel system — is still part of the garden's daily life, alongside a view over Serpa's landmarks: the Palácio dos Condes de Ficalho, the Torre das Portas de Beja and the aqueduct. Guests can enjoy a private terrace overlooking the city, a swimming pool and tank for leisure, and access to curated activities and local recommendations to make the most of their stay in the region. Rooted in slow living and self-sufficiency, the project offers a rare combination of rural garden life within an urban centre, alongside the textile art practice that complements the horticultural work. It is a small-scale, personally run initiative that reflects a broader commitment to organic, biological growing methods and to sharing that experience with visitors to Serpa.