Villa Sobreiras Altas

Glorious Glass!

Secluded in a rural zone outside of Melides, and worthy of its “altas” name, this architectural beauty curves around a grassy knoll and is literally terraced into its hillside with a swimming pool in the foreground and sweeping views beyond.

With walls of glass offset by contemporary concrete passageways and an angular, flat roof, the observatory-like house would be right at home jutting from a Palm Springs or LA hillside. Its five-bedroom interior is sanctuary-like—pristine, white and spacious, with a mod, gyroscope-styled fireplace in the panoramic living room, and an open-plan kitchen leading out to the barbecue terrace, garden, alfresco dining courtyard and panoramic pool terrace.

Bedrooms also feature floor-to-ceiling glass, so big views are your wake up call! There’s one king bedroom, two queens, two rooms equipped with a pair of twins, and four baths equipped with showers. You’ll be hard pressed to leave the house or lounge-chair lined poolscape, but if you must, Melides is about 10 kilometers, and the Atlantic beaches about 12.

Around

Situated in a serene rural area, this villa offers breathtaking respite from the coastal hustle and bustle, yet remains close to all the necessary amenities such as a local restaurant (1km), a supermarket (10km), beaches (12km) and a golf course (18km). Nearby Melides (10km) and its surrounds have a lot to offer. Some have said Melides is to the Comporta coast what Montauk is to the Hamptons or Cogolin is to St. Tropez—not as famous, but every bit as worth it. Hip global nomads have marked it as their new favorite playground, riding in on the coattails of French designers, international architects, entrepreneurial urbanites, and modern art collectors and jetsetters. The village’s landscape differs a little from others in the greater Alentejo region due to the Lagoa de Melides, or lagoon that surrounds the community and contains a stunning variety of flora and fauna within the protected ecosystem. Waterbird habitat is also abundant, and eels from the waterways make for a popular catch for local diners. Rice paddies and cork fields also create a unique oceanfront landscape, and further inland, the higher altitude relief of the Serra de Grândola creates an area of footpaths and hiking trails, gurgling streams and a 19-kilometer circular route, the Vereda de Melides, designed for exploring the region on bike or foot. The region’s beaches extend for miles, offering an abundance of outdoor recreation activities, notably surfing and riding the wind.

Location

Nearest airport: Lisbon (2 hours)

Best time to visit

May to October