Villa Alegria – Salema, Portugal
Built into the hillside on several levels, Villa Alegria’s crowning glory is its roof top terrace – the 360 views from here are nothing short of stunning. The gardens are terraced towards the beach with an infinity pool, and the entire villa has a wonderful choice of decks and terraces to sit and contemplate the surroundings. Wide floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors, mean the outside is brought in, bathing the interiors in light. The interiors are slick and modern, with cool Mediterranean colours throughout. Villa Alegria is contemporary beach living at its best.
At A Glance
Why We Love It:
For its fabulous roof terrace and views out over the Atlantic.Sleeps:
Eight in four en suite bedrooms.Style:
Contemporary beach chic.Service:
Self-catered with welcome hamper & daily housekeeping.Location:
On a cliff top in the village of Salema, on the south west coast - 20km from Lagos – 105km from Faro airport and 320km from Lisbon.Swimming:
A large heated infinity pool and the blue flag Salema beach.Children:
A perfect villa for families.rooms
Each of the four bedrooms is en suite with a large double bed. The Master Bedroom, on the first floor, features a shower room and a stand-alone steam bath. On the entrance level, two further rooms have en suite shower rooms and separate dressing rooms. The fourth bedroom is on the lower floor. Each of the rooms have spectacular views.
service & extras
The villa comes with daily housekeeping and a welcome hamper of essentials – including wine. The fridge can be stocked prior to your arrival, so please ask about this. Guests can also have the services of a private chef, butler and driver.
facilities
The villa has a very well-equipped state of the art open plan kitchen if you’re looking to self-cater. There’s a barbecue on one of the terraces, with plenty of space for al fresco dining. The Santo António Resort is 2.5km away where guests can use the golf course, tennis courts, health club and Spa.
activities
The soft sandy beach is one of the biggest draws for staying in Villa Alegria, lined with bars and restaurants. But there’s plenty to do both on and off the water locally. There are a number of coastal walking trails and cycling routes through nearby countryside – the villa has its own bikes. There’s some of the best surfing to be had on the whole coastline not far away, and a number of surf schools. Around some of the coves, the water is perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking, and you’ll also find a few caves to explore.
Alternatively, head up the Alvor river and lagoon. Further out to sea, there’s game fishing and sailing on a skippered yacht. On land, you’re spoilt for choice with golf courses – you can play a different one every day. There are also many riding stables – one of the best ways to discover the wild Costa Vincentina Natural Park.
family
A perfect family villa, the beach is just steps away, and there’s plenty to explore locally. Zoomarine is just 40 minutes away, and Lagos Zoo has 120 species of animal. One of the best water parks around is just half an hour away near Lagoa.
Salema
In the Costa Vincentina Natural Park, and area of outstanding natural beauty, Salema is a working fishing village. The surrounding countryside is equally stunning, with rolling hills and traditional villages. Salema is filled with whitewashed cottages around a pretty bay and sandy blue flag beach. Along the coast are little coves with beaches you can reach by boat. There’s a fabulous choice of restaurants – the seafood is guaranteed to be fresh – boutiques and a farmers market every Wednesday.
Location
Villa Alegria is on the edge of the small village of Salema, on the south west coast. Its clifftop position gives it commanding views of the Atlantic and surrounding countryside. It’s just 50m from the beach and 20km from Lagos.
