I’ve always loved this building, from way back when I used to bring olives here.’ Twelve years after arriving in Monsaraz Gil bought the lagar, or olive oil factory, in Telheiro. From loving the place, to loving to eat here was two years of building work and a real mouthwatering project.
So began the life of Sem-Fim (meaning ‘without end’), a restaurant where the artist, Gil Kalisvaart, and restorer, Arlinda Ribeiro, reproduce the tastes of the region and recreate the flavours of the world. A space of industrial archeology where life itself has been preserved: who says that olive oil isn’t alchemy?
Even the olive oil presses reveal themselves as picture frames, one freshly finished while the next waits empty, until others come to paint them in, so that diners can glance over to find their senses aroused right up to the last mouthful.
Westlander, is a sailing barge built in Holland in 1913. This type of boat, used in the Dutch canals to transport goods like flowers, is the perfect vehicle for these waters. When there was no wind, in Holland, the boat was driven by a horse on each bank. It doesn’t have a central keel, but it does have two lateral ones, which stabilize the vessel and makes it easy to come alongside.
The vessel is 17 metres long, 3.10 metres wide, 90 square metres of sail, with a 12 metre mast and a draft of 50 cm.
It was later transformed at home and now sails with whoever loves adventures, a sailing boat that remembers pirates. The experience of moving under sail is a classic.
The possibilities on the boat are without end – trips with snacks on board, lunches, romantic dinners, birthday parties, weddings (whether on the boat or in the restaurant, the marriages are always without end – a good bet!).
For the beginner the clarity of the night sky (average of 286 clear nights a year) makes it easier to recognise all the constellations, identify the stars and even spot some deep sky objects with the naked eye. Telescopes and binoculars are also available at key locations to enhance the visual experience and expert guides are on hand to provide information and advice.
For the more experienced observer and expert deep sky objects (galaxies, nebulas and star clusters) are visible down to 52 deg south declination. The low light pollution and clarity of the sky provides a unique opportunity to observe the dimmest deep sky objects and to see the moon and planets in sharp focus.
Astrophotography too can be pursued successfully and dramatically here.
Alqueva is a unique region very rich in cultural and natural heritage with, various visible megalithic remains whish suggest that our ancestors symbolically valued the landscape, relating it to the diversity of celestial movements, small picturesque villages and opportunities for to develop different tourist activities that could start during the day and extent during the night. The experiences implemented through an Alqueva Dark Sky® Route allows tourists to undertake several night activities such as stargazing, bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife observation, canoeing, dinners on the lake shore, activities with children and even wine tasting.
It is wonderful to observe close up the rugged, cratered surface of the Moon and study the movement of the four main moons of Jupiter. To find Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia, but do not just stop there. Stroll through the eyes many other constellations, visible in a wide range depending on the season of the year. For example, to locate Lion, Virgo and Libra, spreading out your eyes by Scorpio and Sagittarius, following the mysterious Capricornus, without forgetting Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra, passing the eyes through the majestic Milky Way, observe Aquarium, the faint Pisces, stretching the Gaze to Pegasus and Aries, visit the magnificent Taurus which night after night challenges Orion. Follow for Gemini and be sure to see Auriga. All this surrounded by the magnificent nature, sounds and smells.
The Alqueva Dark Sky Route has telescopes and binoculars and it is possible also to learn how to stargaze.
The lodging units integrated in the Alqueva Dark Sky Route are prepared to receive the astro-tourists with services adapted to their specific needs, like late night meals and meals to go for stargazers.

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Eat and Drink

• Sem-Fim Restaurants and Boats - Monsaraz (0.0 miles) - I’ve always loved this building, from way back when I used to bring olives here.’ Twelve years a...

See and Do

• Sem-Fim Restaurants and Boats Monsaraz (0.0 miles) - I’ve always loved this building, from way back when I used to bring olives here.’ Twelve years a...