5 Unique houses
Customisation available
Also suitable for retreats
Tucked away on the edge of the enchanting Ria Formosa nature park, in the peaceful eastern Algarve, lies this hideaway. An old quinta transformed into five first class holiday homes, with terracotta floors, vintage heirlooms and a garden filled with fragrant flowers. With two swimming pools, a spacious yoga sala and a wonderful restaurant, this is the perfect place to truly unwind or host your own retreat, far from the crowds.
The eastern Algarve has been a favourite part of Portugal for me for years. A rough diamond, where things are still a good deal less touristy than west of Faro, with less high-rise development and a wholly different atmosphere. One of the loveliest spots here is the Ria Formosa nature park, an enchanting lagoon dotted with islets, salt pans, sandbanks and floodplains. A living painting that shifts colour throughout the day and is simply breathtaking.
It was there, precisely, that Monique and her husband found the place to bring their dream to life: transforming an old quinta into a first class property. Using beautiful local materials, I have such a soft spot for the genuine terracotta floors so typical of this area, and nostalgic vintage pieces from the estate, they have created five interlinked holiday homes. Each with 2 to 3 bedrooms, almost all houses are adults only, together sleeping up to 26 guests.
Quinta Galore!
But there is more. A gorgeous garden filled with fragrant flowers and herbs, two swimming pools and a wonderful restaurant where a renowned Dutch chef cooks throughout the summer months. On request, they will also cook privately for you, so you can enjoy a delicious Portuguese cataplana on your own terrace. Wonderful massages can be booked, and there is a spacious yoga sala fully equipped with props.
You can walk straight down to the coast, where at sunrise you will spot the locals gathering shellfish. Beaches lie a little further afield. Walking and cycling here are superb, and by car you are quickly in Tavira or Olhão, where good restaurants await too. Ciprian, the warm and welcoming host, is happy to help you organise your perfect holiday.
In short, the perfect place to slow down, to savour this tranquil corner of Portugal, or to host a retreat. And with Monique and her husband’s entrepreneurial spirit and plans, I have a feeling there is still much more beauty to come.
Luz de Tavira, eastern Algarve, Portugal
