THE LUXURY TRAVEL
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SOLAR DA PONTE VERDE
| TRAVEL WITH A CONSCIENCE
SOLAR DA PONTE VERDE, PETROPOLIS, BRAZIL
A haven of peace, tranquillity and great food, lies hidden just an hour and a half out of Rio. Bridget McNulty spends a few days recharging her batteries at the Green Bridge House.
Text Bridget McNulty
Photography Mark Peddle
Most people leave Rio de Janeiro without venturing out of the city; but to do that would be to miss one of the great treasures of the region. Just an hour and a half out of one of the world’s most exciting cities lies an area of such astounding natural beauty and tranquillity that city life feels as if it’s on another planet. Tucked into the heart of this area, you’ll find a green house, camouflaged so that it blends into the trees, and built in the shape of a bird – with two wings outstretched and a head to look out at the mountains on all sides. This green house can only be reached by going over a green bridge, and if you don’t know where you’re going you might miss it altogether. But as soon as you arrive you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another, better world: a world of deep stillness, natural wonder, and (did I mention this already?) superb food.
Let’s start with the food. Solar da Ponte Verde, or Green Bridge House, as it is known in English, is technically a B&B, except they don’t just provide bed and breakfast, but bed and breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are lovingly hand-prepared by a team led by Nazareth, the lady of the house and an amazing Brazilian cook. She dishes up feasts of homemade delicacies like freshly made bread, cheese rolls, refreshing cold soups and hearty Brazilian lunches. She even makes her own yoghurt. Breakfast is a wonderful array of fresh tropical fruits, home-baked breads, cheese and cakes (the banana bread is excellent), accompanied by your choice of French Toast, pancakes or omelettes. The meal takes a few hours, hours spent chatting to Paul and Nazareth about Brazil, and their lovely home, and the guests that pass through their doors.
Lunch is another communal feast, taken outside in the breezy shaded barbecue area, right on the edge of the forest, and dinners are served on the verandah, the perfect spot for a bit of stargazing once the dessert has been cleared away. All the meals are 100% vegetarian and 100% fresh, the kind of wholesome delicious food that makes your body happy. It’s feel-good food.
In fact, it’s a feel-good place. Lovingly decorated with Brazilian artworks and beautifully chosen pieces of furniture (much of it reclaimed wood from farmhouses that were demolished in the area), Green Bridge House has struck the perfect balance between cosy and stylish. It’s effortlessly comfortable, and perfectly put together.
This sense of style is highlighted by the truly incredible views that open up on every side. The house is tucked into the Serra das Araras, a range of mountains covered in Mata Atlantica, Atlantic Forest, and on the horizon there’s a perfectly clear view of the Serra dos Orgaos, the Organ Mountains, recently voted one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Places Worth Saving. Step out of the house and there’s a refreshingly cold pool (fed by the mountain spring water) to cool off in during the hot summer days, surrounded by mountains, the call of birds and bugs and crickets, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife (we were visited twice by a Brazilian porcupine making its way up a tree). You’ll probably be tempted to while away the days on the swing chair on the verandah, or on one of the incredibly comfortable couches in the lounge, but if you’re feeling adventurous there’s a trail cut into the mountain (literally cut into the side of the mountain) that leads straight up to some even more breathtaking views. Gloves and walking stick are provided. You’ll be glad you took them.
Or if you’re in the mood for something more relaxing, there’s a sauna to unwind in, and a labyrinth to walk as the sun slowly sinks in the sky.
Whatever your choice of activity, rest assured that you will leave Green Bridge House feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The air is so fresh, the water so clear, the hospitality so warm that you’ll feel like a new person within hours. The only challenge will be tearing yourself away to return to the real world, a world not quite so beautiful, not quite so peaceful, and with not quite such good food.
Read more in Travel With A Conscience
©Copyright Just The Planet
Let’s start with the food. Solar da Ponte Verde, or Green Bridge House, as it is known in English, is technically a B&B, except they don’t just provide bed and breakfast, but bed and breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are lovingly hand-prepared by a team led by Nazareth, the lady of the house and an amazing Brazilian cook. She dishes up feasts of homemade delicacies like freshly made bread, cheese rolls, refreshing cold soups and hearty Brazilian lunches. She even makes her own yoghurt. Breakfast is a wonderful array of fresh tropical fruits, home-baked breads, cheese and cakes (the banana bread is excellent), accompanied by your choice of French Toast, pancakes or omelettes. The meal takes a few hours, hours spent chatting to Paul and Nazareth about Brazil, and their lovely home, and the guests that pass through their doors.
Lunch is another communal feast, taken outside in the breezy shaded barbecue area, right on the edge of the forest, and dinners are served on the verandah, the perfect spot for a bit of stargazing once the dessert has been cleared away. All the meals are 100% vegetarian and 100% fresh, the kind of wholesome delicious food that makes your body happy. It’s feel-good food.
In fact, it’s a feel-good place. Lovingly decorated with Brazilian artworks and beautifully chosen pieces of furniture (much of it reclaimed wood from farmhouses that were demolished in the area), Green Bridge House has struck the perfect balance between cosy and stylish. It’s effortlessly comfortable, and perfectly put together.
This sense of style is highlighted by the truly incredible views that open up on every side. The house is tucked into the Serra das Araras, a range of mountains covered in Mata Atlantica, Atlantic Forest, and on the horizon there’s a perfectly clear view of the Serra dos Orgaos, the Organ Mountains, recently voted one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Places Worth Saving. Step out of the house and there’s a refreshingly cold pool (fed by the mountain spring water) to cool off in during the hot summer days, surrounded by mountains, the call of birds and bugs and crickets, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife (we were visited twice by a Brazilian porcupine making its way up a tree). You’ll probably be tempted to while away the days on the swing chair on the verandah, or on one of the incredibly comfortable couches in the lounge, but if you’re feeling adventurous there’s a trail cut into the mountain (literally cut into the side of the mountain) that leads straight up to some even more breathtaking views. Gloves and walking stick are provided. You’ll be glad you took them.
Or if you’re in the mood for something more relaxing, there’s a sauna to unwind in, and a labyrinth to walk as the sun slowly sinks in the sky.
Whatever your choice of activity, rest assured that you will leave Green Bridge House feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The air is so fresh, the water so clear, the hospitality so warm that you’ll feel like a new person within hours. The only challenge will be tearing yourself away to return to the real world, a world not quite so beautiful, not quite so peaceful, and with not quite such good food.
Read more in Travel With A Conscience
©Copyright Just The Planet
SOLAR DA PONTE VERDE, PETROPOLIS, BRAZIL
Style Serene mountain retreat.
Setting Tucked away in a hectare of beautifully landscaped tropical garden, surrounded by wild Atlantic Forest on all sides, and ringed by the most incredible mountain views. Simply sublime.
Why you'll love it The food is extraordinary – all homemade, abundant, and so fresh it seems to glow. The views will take your breath away. And the tranquillity will calm even the most stressed-out souls.
Good to know All meals are included (and vegetarian), and you won’t want to miss a single one. The water in the taps comes straight from the mountain, so it’s safe (and delicious!) to drink.
Best rooms or suites to book Green Bridge House doesn’t class itself as luxury accommodation, but the rooms are spacious, airy and very comfortable. There are only three rooms in the main house, and one chalet. One room is twin, the other two are doubles, but the Honeymoon Suite is by far the best – much larger than the other two, and with a balcony looking out over the forest. The chalet sleeps three and has its own kitchen, but you probably won’t want to do any cooking because the food served in the house is so delicious!
Room for improvement The décor overall is divine – carefully chosen artworks complement the beautiful wooden furniture, and combine in a deliciously comfortable way. The only thing I felt didn’t fit in was the bright pink floral bedspread – it detracted from the understated beauty of the rest of the room.
What they’re doing for the environment The house was built from all local materials (by all local labour) – predominantly wood and stone, much of it sourced from the surrounding towns. Most of the furniture is made from reclaimed wood. The food is either locally sourced from the nearby markets, or grown in the vegetable garden out the back. The water comes straight from the mountain and can be drunk from the tap, saving hundreds of plastic bottles that would otherwise have to be imported up the mountain. And all the natural waste is composted for use in the garden.
Address Solar da Ponte Verde / Green Bridge House, Araras, Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tel +55 (0)24 2225 0570
Rates Including all meals, excluding 10% service charge.
Suites:
Monday – Thursday: 340 Brazilian reais per suite (approx US$192)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holidays: 390 Brazilian reais per suite (approx US$220)
For both Friday and Saturday (2 nights): 710 Brazilian reais total per suite (approx US$401)
Chalet:
Monday – Thursday: 400 reais for the chalet (approx US$225)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday or holidays: 480 reais for the chalet (approx US$271)
For both Friday and Saturday (2 nights): 850 reais total for the chalet (approx US$480)
How to Get There Petropolis is about an hour out of the city of Rio de Janeiro, and Green Bridge House is only half an hour out from Petropolis. The easiest route is to use the taxi service recommended by Green Bridge House: the direct route from Rio or the airport takes about 90 minutes, and costs R$150 (approx US$83)
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