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Casa Escondida
Boliqueime, Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Casa Escondida
Boliqueime, Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Breezy Coastal Style
A red-tiled roof, whitewashed walls offset by forest green shutters, and a lovely terraced garden with a saltwater swimming pool fill a tree-filled plot, only 15 minutes’ drive from the beach in a rural corner of the Algarve.
Inside, the home offers a cheery, open plan decorated in an easygoing, breezy coastal style. There’s plenty of cane and straw, seaside-inspired striped throw pillows, white-on-wood furniture, and cool terracotta tile and brick underfoot. Deep covered patios surround the home, offering a multitude of alfresco living options, and a neatly landscaped outdoor dining terrace is shaded by a giant leafy tree, creating the perfect scene for gentle, country home entertaining.
AROUND
Located in an off-the-beaten-track corner of the sundrenched Algarve, Boliqueime puts rural Portuguese village life on full display. There’s a bank, a pharmacy, a supermarket and a handful of family-run restaurants and cafes in town, all accessible some five minutes from the home by car. The larger community of Loulé, with a daily produce and fish market, is a bit further from the home—a quick 10-minute drive. Set on a hilltop, Loulé reveals the region’s Moorish heritage. Castle ruins and ancient Moorish fortifications can still be seen in town. The nearest beach, Praia da Falesia, is only 15 minutes away on the Algarve’s western coast. This section of shoreline is famed for its intimate bays, rugged outcroppings, cliff-backed sands, and passing whales and dolphins in season.
Praia Sao Rafael is also a local favorite beach on the west coast. Heading East of Vila Real de San Antonio to Faro, on the “Sandalgarve,” a favorite sandy stretch is Praia do Barril. And the East Coast is also home to the region’s Ria Formosa Natural Park, a land of lagoons and small islands jutting from the turquoise waters. Locals love the hidden, “secret” beach of Cacela Velha, and also the Ilha Armona and Ilha Farol within the park’s boundaries. Boat trips, kayaking and SUPs offer great ways to explore the coastline. Adventurous types can try their hand at cliff jumping, or water cave touring, and diving, snorkeling and surfing outfitters are available as well. Land lovers could opt for horseback riding on the beach or hiking the Rota Vincentina, a network of trails covering some 750 kilometers that includes two long distance routes, the Historical Way and Fisherman’s Trail.
LOCATION
Boliqueime, Faro, Algarve, Portugal. Nearest airport: Faro (25 mins)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October
