The Little Orchard

A Secluded Alentejo Getaway

This villa rental in Portugal has all the characteristics of a typical Alentejo house, taking full advantage of all the natural elements around it.

Located on the edge of a small hill overlooking the countryside, it's surrounded by three hectares of native Mediterranean forest (olive, oaks and pine trees). The location gives the property a real sense of seclusion and peace, making it perfect for a quiet getaway.

Interiors were designed with a mix of contemporary and vintage style, with splashes of contrasting color and texture, giving the house a casual but chic feel. Cool tones, high ceilings and minimal furnishing create a real sense of space. Bedrooms and bathrooms are pared down, with attention given to function over frivolity - and the main living area is a cool open-plan space with a modern kitchen as its centerpiece.

Walk out through any of the sliding windows and you're in the large garden. A stony terrace offers outdoor dining and a fabulous pool, the shade of ancient cork trees and a view of the ocean in the distance.

What we love

Life here centers around the stone dining terrace and the pool cradled beneath ancient cork trees, offering total privacy with no neighboring properties in sight. Inside, the airy, high-ceilinged spaces are styled with a beautifully relaxed edit of vintage and contemporary pieces. Reached via a rugged dirt track on a secluded Alentejo hillside, it’s an authentic, off-the-grid sanctuary where you can fully unplug, listen to the wind in the trees, and experience the raw, untamed beauty of Portugal.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Melides, Portugal sleeps up to six guests, plus two children. A single-story home built around an open-plan living and kitchen space, with three bedrooms opening to the garden or terrace via sliding windows. Two bathrooms serve the house. The master bedroom is en suite. Bedrooms two and three share the second bathroom. The third room is configured for a combination of adult and children's sleeping.

Good to know

The final two kilometers to the house are unpaved, and a high-clearance vehicle such as an SUV is strongly recommended. Check-in is before 6:00PM, and daylight arrival is advisable given the approach road. The property does not have air conditioning. The surrounding forest is a mosquito-prone area in summer months.

Amenities & services

Fully equipped kitchen, wifi throughout, flat-screen TV, private pool, outdoor dining terrace, three hectares of private grounds, parking on site

Around

The house is located 75-90 minutes south of Lisbon, in the Melides/Serra de Grandola area. It's the perfect location for making the most of both the countryside and the Atlantic coastal areas near Comporta. The region stretches from the Sado River to the charming nearby town of Melides, and the road to the beautiful Serra de Grandola Valley runs just below the property.

The closest beach (Aberta Nova) is about 20 minutes away by car, with the beautiful Praia do Pego and Praia Carvalhal within 30 minutes, depending on weather and road conditions. The former fishing village of Comporta has recently become very popular but still retains its laid-back vibe and windswept natural beauty. Thirty minutes to the south is the ancient Moorish town of Santiago do Cacem, with its quaint cobblestone streets and fortifications, and the ancient Roman settlement of Miróbriga. Setubal and the Sado estuary are an hour north.