CASA COLINA

Casa da Colina (The House on The Hill) is a four-bedroom air-conditioned villa on the magical Quinta da Saudade with its own heated pool.  It is a fifteen-minute drive from Albufeira.  It is a traditional Algarve-style house in a unique position with magical views overlooking Gale beach to the front, beautiful countryside to the right and the mountains of Monchique in the distance.

The accommodation consists of a beautiful sitting room having an unusual beamed ceiling and an Algarve style stone fireplace together with a wood-burning stove.  The colorful soft furnishings reflect the courtyard garden outside.  There is a small separate dining room comfortably seating six or eight people.  The kitchen shows off the hand-painted Algarve tiles and consists of a large double gas cooker, microwave and large fridge.  An outer kitchen houses a dishwasher, washing machine and a small fridge for cooling bottles.

The master bedroom, with its king-sized bed, enjoys spectacular views.  It has its own dressing room and bathroom en suite.  There are two further bedrooms downstairs.  The pink bedroom has two twin beds with a recently refurbished en suite bathroom.  The blue bedroom is smaller and can have two small single beds for children or can be made up as a double bed as required – this room uses the third downstairs attractively tiled blue shower room.  There is a further cloakroom.    All bedrooms have the advantage of air conditioning.

The fourth bedroom suite, having its own staircase, has its own bathroom, sitting room and small kitchenette – the views from the windows upstairs are stunning!

The house overlooks the swimming pool, which can be heated in the cooler months, and the courtyard garden is a delight at all times of year especially in the Spring when the freesias abound.  There is a built-in gas barbecue on the terrace.  The house has great charm being built in a semi-bungalow style with a pantile roof.  The house offers total privacy and sits on its own land amounting to in excess of an acre.  In the garden grow olive, carob, almond, pomegranate, fig trees and many other exotic treats.   The addition of a petanque pitch is fun.  There is also a table tennis table.

There is now a safe swimming pool surround that can be erected on request – this is not in use under normal circumstances but of course is essential when young children are using the house.

The villa is situated six miles west of Albufeira close to the famous village of Guia where you may sample the delicious chicken piri-piri from one of its many typical Algarvean restaurants.  The villa is approached through the ‘Pineapple Palm’ entrance leading to the well-known Quinta da Saudade estate.  It must be pointed out that this is open to the public but persons using Casa da Colina are not eligible to use the communal swimming pools unless invited.  On the other hand, the tennis court is available at any time.  The Restaurant, open six days a week during the summer months and serves a good variety of food.  Weekly barbecues are held on a Saturday night in the summer, which are great fun for the family – persons using Casa da Colina will be most welcome but booking is essential.

Since 2004 the new Marina in Albufeira opened – although the colours of this new venture are not to everyone’s taste this must be an overall asset with the addition of many new restaurants and trips to the caves, boats to hire, etc.

Maria, the maid, works a 5-and-a-half-day week excluding Bank Holidays, making the beds, washing up and generally tidying up the villa. Her husband is the gardener who comes in twice a week.

On arrival at the house there will be a food parcel provided with enough food in the fridge for your first breakfast with wine and water also supplied.

Due to weight restrictions when flying Beach Towels are now provided.

The house is now fully equipped with WIFI/internet.

Although both the beach and the shops are a good walk away, a car is essential.