THE ALGARVE

A Pousada is a hotel that is owned and partly managed by the state. Many Pousadas are interesting historic buildings such as castles or monasteries that have been restored. Many have prime locations and excellent views and they generally offer 4-5 star accommodation and associated facilities.

The first regional Pousada was created in Portugal in 1940 when the state owned Portugal Pousadas Group began- the concept was to restore and preserve national heritage and to increase the supply of first class accommodation. The Pousadas are classified into 4 groups being Historic, Historic Design, Nature and Charm.

The Hotel Pousada de Sao Bras de Alportel has magnificent views of the surrounding Algarve mountains and is near the Atlantic Ocean and the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. This Pousada offers the best of both worlds. It is set in peaceful countryside away from the crowded Algarve resorts and only thirty minute drive from the coastal resorts.Click here for properties for sale in Sao Bras

The Alentejo area is commonly known as the “bread basket” of Portugal. A fitting title for this vast open countryside with undulating plains and rich fertile soil. With very few exceptions all the major towns are mainly reliant on agriculture, livestock and wood. Typical products from this area are grain, sunflower, carthame, fruit, vegetables, olives, wines, cork, eucalyptus, lamb, pigs, kid, granite, schist and marble. This richness of produce has been taken from the land for thousands of years as visitors may encounter throughout most of the region signs of human existence from thousands of years ago

Topographically the countryside varies considerably, from the open rolling plains of the south of the Alentejo to the granite hills that border Spain in the north-east. To feed the water needs of this considerable area a number of public dams have been constructed. In the heart of the productive agriculture zone of Moura, there is the largest dam in Portugal named “Alqueva”, and also and one of the largest water surface areas in Europe.

Click here for properties for sale in the Alentejo region

Beja

This city is the capital of the Baixa Alentejo District and maintains attractive visible evidence of its historic background. It is recorded as existing in 48 AC after the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar gave it the name of Pax Julia and declared it as a regional capital. However, there is evidence that the location was inhabited since the Bronze Age. The Town Square was originally the site of its Roman Forum. The Moors renamed the town when they occupied it, and but for a brief time in 715, they were firmly entrenched from 711 to 1162.

The city with about 22.000 population has a number of ancient buildings and the name Beja as used today was given to it by the occupying Moors in the 6th Century. The Convento da Nossa Senhora da Conceição dating from 1459 is both visually interesting and enjoys international fame from the 1669 French publication of the celebrated “Lettres Portugaises”. These were five lyric love letters by a 26 year-old nun named Mariana Alcoforado to her lover the Comte de Saint-Léger after he deserted her.

Click here for properties for sale in Beja

Vale da Telha is situated in the Costa Vicentina National Park on the Western Atlantic coast of the Algarve. It is 6 kilometers from the charming white-washed hillside town of Aljezur, and is between the beautiful beaches of Monte Clerigo and Arrifana.

Vale da Telha is served by a small number of bars and restaurants plus a few shops, The town of Aljezur provides a daily market offering fresh produce including fresh fish, flowers and a host of locally grown vegetables. There are a range of banks, a post office, small supermarkets and shops plus local government offices and a good choice of restaurants in Aljezur.

Vale da Telha offers tranquility and amazing value compared to most areas along the south coast of the Algarve. If you feel tempted to find out more, why not come and check it out for yourself?

Click here for properties for sale in Vale da Telha

 Aljezur

The river that divides Aljezur was once navigable but today is just picturesque in spring and autumn and dry in summer. The ‘Old Town’ is built on a hill that leads up to the castle. The castle was built by the Moors in the 10th Centuary.

There are an array of small museums and galleries dotted along the narrow winding medieval streets & alleyways leading up to the castle. Crossing the river past the local ’strip faming area’ leads to the ‘New Town’. This is dominated by the new Church ‘Igreja Nova’ which has given its name to this part of the town.

Click here for properties for sale in Aljezur

In this calm before the storm, the Silver Coast property prices are managing to retain some real great value buys, especially with regard to apartments. No one can say how long the situation will remain like this and the general attitude is, if one intends to buy a great value property on the Silver Coast, one should do it sooner rather than later. For an example of some great value apartments currently available on the market on the Silver Coast, listed below is a selection of apartments with prices, photographs, and a link to further details on the website.

Bombarral – This 2 bedroom great value apartment is in Bombarral, on the Silver Coast. It is ideally located just 15 minutes drive from the many wonderful beaches on the west coast, and just a 40 minute drive from the bustling capital city of Lisbon. This low cost apartment is a real bargain buy! View more details on this great value 2 bedroom apartment

Nazaré – These brand new apartments for sale in Nazare are great value in a great location - just a short drive from the beach and within walking distance to local shops and amenities. They are a spacious 100m2 with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchens, and a high standard of finishings. The condominium is secure and well maintained and boasts a communal pool. See more on this property.

Cadaval – This brand new apartment is situated in a village close to the towns of Cadaval and Bombarral, within easy reach of the motorway. There is underground parking with allocation of two parking spaces and a storage space. These great value apartments also benefit from communal gardens.

3 bedroom apartment - €97.000. Great value apartment.

Alcobaca – This great value apartment is situated just 100 metres from the World Heritage monastery of Alcobaca, and within walking distance from shops, cafés, and restaurants. The apartment is on the first floor and enjoys a large balcony of 16m2 to the front of the property. This great value apartment features 2 bedrooms, kitchen, and lounge with dining area. The living area measures 80m2.

2 bedroom apartment - €78.000. Great value; excellent starter home.

Click here for a selection of apartments for sale on the Silver Coast

If you are looking for a country villa in the Algarve then the area of Loule in the Central Algarve region is a fantastic choice. This market town is just 15 minutes from Faro airport and has lots of character with narrow cobbled streets, lots of history and traditional restaurants offering local dishes at good prices. Loule has supermarkets, shops and a food market offering fresh produce including fish, vegetables, fruit, cheese and home made bread and cakes.

In the town of Loule itself the properties are mostly apartments and townhouses but on the outskirts there a number of beautiful areas with country villas for sale at all different price levels. Many of these areas offer
fantastic views towards the coast and have the convenience of being just a short drive from Loule and all of it’s amenities. Loule is a popular area for people looking for a holiday home away from the busy tourist resorts and also a good choice for those looking to relocate to the Algarve and settle in a quiet area close to the airport and facilities such as medical centres,
shops and restaurants. Loule is just minutes from the A22 motorway which makes access to the airport and other areas convenient and it is just 20 minutes drive from the coast and the beautiful Algarve beaches.

A country villa in Loule can cost anything from around 300,000 euros to 2 million euros depending on it’s location, size and finishings. Below are details of 3 very different country villas for sale in Loule and surrounding areas to demonstrate what you can get for your money there.

The first is a 3 bedroom detached villa with pool and separate annex around 10 minutes drive from Loule. The villa is in a quiet location in the village of Salir and is very well priced at 280,000 euros. The villa is on a good sized plot of just over 1000m2 and benefits from lovely views of the countryside. The property provides the perfect opportunity to purchase a ‘bolt hole’ away from it all with the convenience of the town’s amenities close at hand.

More details of this property

For 675,000 euros you can buy this fantastic 3 bedroom farmhouse on a plot of 5000m2 with sea views. The house is set in an elevated position and has fantastic landscaped gardens and a private swimming pool. The house is just a short drive from Loule and benefits from a garage and central heating.

More details of this property

If you are looking for a property in a fantastic setting with sea and country views and luxury finishings then the next property could be for you! This country villa is just 8 minutes drive from the centre of Loule and is set on 3 floors with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and guest cloakroom. The 4th bedroom is on the lower floor and is set in a self contained apartment with lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom and direct access to the pool area. The villa has underfloor heating, air conditioning, newly fitted kitchen and bathrooms, large games room with bar area and a spacious lounge with fireplace. The villa has many terraces from which you can enjoy the fabulous views and there is also a room next to the bbq area with kitchen, bathroom and shower which makes outdoor dining easy. The villa is priced at 1.5 million euros and has to be viewed to be appreciated. Click here for further details.

Contact us for further details of these country villas in Loule or for a range of alternative properties. Tel 01480 477773 from the UK or (00351) 289 356395 from other areas.

Many of those who discover this up-and-coming coastal region go on to fall in love with it. The Silver Coast is rapidly becoming the most desirable part of Portugal for discerning property investors, and the price movements are beginning to reflect this growth in popularity. For those seeking property for sale in the Silver Coast (Costa Prata as it’s known), the advice would be to act sooner rather than later, before the prices soar to match the properties for sale in the Algarve.

The Silver Coast stretches from north of Lisbon up the west coast to Porto. The most popular areas of the Silver Coast are currently the areas from Lourinhã up to Peniche, on to São Martinho do Porto and Nazaré on the coast, and a little inland to the town of Caldas da Rainha and the medieval walled city of Óbidos.

Property on the Silver Coast is currently in hot demand, and provides a fashionable alternative for those seeking an option away from the hustle and bustle of the Algarve. Of course, there are differences between the two regions. In the Silver Coast not so much English is spoken and in some inland areas it will be almost non-existent. One should be prepared for the adventure that comes with choosing a region, like the Silver Coast, that is untarnished by tourism. In fact, the Silver Coast remains the real Portugal, where traditions and culture abound. The beaches are incredibly popular in July and August with Portuguese holiday makers, thus maintaining a distinct Portuguese feel to the area, even since its recent discovery by foreign tourists searching for their bargain holiday beach home. There is also a marginal difference between the weather fronts of the Silver Coast and the Algarve. More marked though is the huge difference in weather fronts between anywhere in Portugal and the U.K! Central and Northern Portugal boast beautifully hot summers, blue skies and sunshine throughout the winter, and what maybe even be considered a bonus is that they don’t experience the fierce dry heat of the Algarve. However one looks at it, the weather will always be a joy compared to that of the U.K.

Another reason to choose the Silver Coast is that property prices are still a lot less than most other destinations in Southern Europe. However, with the recent trend to buy in this region, investors are hoping that the Silver Coast will see the sort of price hikes that the early investors of the Algarve enjoyed. Most are also hoping that further development will be controlled as the local authorities are promising so that the peaceful charm of the area won’t be swamped. But can there be hope for a rise in prices and yet coasts and towns remain unspoilt? Some say yes as the Portuguese have watched and learned from the rate of progresss in neighbouring Spain.

If you have not yet discovered this delightful region of Portugal, put it on the top of your list of destinations before you consider investing anywhere else. You won’t be disappointed.

For examples of properties for sale on the Silver Coast, go here.

The market town of Monchique lies in the saddle created by the two mills Foia and Picota; the former being the highest peak in the Algarve, measuring 902m above sea level. Overlooking the town is a neglected 17th century Franciscan monastery from where one can enjoy a panoramic view over glorious countryside. The 10,000 inhabitants of this town have retained its rustic atmosphere with steep cobbled streets and small traditional buildings housing various artisan trades. The town and its surrounding areas depend on the products grown or handmade in the surrounding hills, especially timber, cork, smoked ham, honey, aguardente and medronho liquors, basketwork, leather goods, woollen sweaters, and the renowned Monchique chairs.

Click the link below for a selection of properties for sale in Monchique

http://www.algarveprop.com/property-for-sale-Monchique.html

The village of Caldas de Monchique lies just below Monchique in a wooded ravine which resounds in early summer to the song of nightingales. It was well developed in Roman times as a spa. Even today one can sample the curing elements of the sulphur smelling hot spring water that emerges at a constant temperature of 32 degrees centigrade. Locals continue to benefit from various water therapy treatments for rheumatism, back pains, and respiratory and muscular complaints.

There are 2 further hot spring sites, one to the south of Picota hidden in a valley. It is called Fonte Santa and is rumoured to have special healing effects. Some people make annual visits to this spring and in its history there have been recorded visits by the king of Portugal and the King of Italy.

Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique Spa Resort, amongst the green hills and blue skies, is formed of hotels in restored historical buildings, thermal water outdoor swimming pool thermal spa, restaurants, wine bar, and shops. This place of leisure and relaxation offers all year round a variety of well-being programmes, thermal treatments, and golf and spa programmes. The nature and the clean air of the hills make Caldas de Monchique the ideal stage for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and off road biking. For more information go to their website via our directory