Luz Charming Houses Fátima

It was almost a century ago that a little town in Portugal — not even a town, just a field, south of Porto and north of Lisbon — was suddenly put on the map, at least in the Catholic world of popes and priests. It was here, in 1917, that a trio of children witnessed a series of Marian apparitions, and today, the region of Fátima remains a popular place of pilgrimage. Not that you have to receive Communion regularly to appreciate a stylish getaway like Luz Houses. But it helps if you come with an open mind and, perhaps, a mindset that’s more geared to quiet breakfasts and long walks in the woods than, say, locating the nearest outlet for your laptop.

Luz Houses is like a small village within a village, with several terra-cotta buildings set in a wooded landscape of fruit and olive trees. The property’s centerpiece is the Mother House, a rustic-chic-meets-industrial-cool communal space complete with terrace and honesty bar, cozy fireplace-warmed lounge spaces, even a small grocery store stocking locally produced and artisanal food and drink.

Across the way, a series of cottages contain fifteen guest rooms and suites. With their immaculate, nearly all-white decor, polished concrete floors, and open floor plan, plus a few unexpected design pieces, from a suspended bronze lamp to a wooden side table, they’re like mini sanctuaries for unplugging and unwinding. Suites come with kitchenettes — pick up your fresh herbs and olive oils back at the Mother House if you’re inclined to make your own lunch — and private porches. Superior suites also have fireplaces, while the grand Master suite sleeps six and features entertaining space that looks straight out of a modern design magazine.

There’s a “meditation path” leading to a quaint hermitage, if you’re into that sort of thing, and, in the center of the property, a stairwell leading to a quiet cave. It’s here that the Luz Retreat offers a number of treatments. You can just get a regular massage, too; Luz Houses is a spiritual place, but not forcefully so. There’s no crime in checking your e-mail, either: wi-fi is free at the hotel, and in the village, too. Fátima is an important place, after all — you never know when someone might need to send a message.

How to get there: Luz Houses is approximately 120 km by car from Lisbon International Airport via A1/E1 and 205 km by car from Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport, also via A1/E1.