Villa Vale Silves Portugal

Villa Vale Silves is a highly impressive, somewhat quirky designer home which sits on a hill in the prestigious Vale da Vila national park, just ten minutes outside of Silves. With six bedrooms in total, the villa sleeps twelve guests comfortably. It boasts the most amazing countryside views, full of olive and orange groves and with the sea in the distance. The villa is single storey with the added charm of a unique guest studio in a container close to the main villa. With Faro to the west and gorgeous sandy beaches to the south, this dreamy property offers the best of all worlds, complete solitude and privacy, gorgeous scenery, quirky charm, within easy reach of the airport, beaches and characterful towns and villages and total luxury.
Silves is a very attractive Portuguese gem boasting a fascinating history and beautiful red-hued buildings. This ancient Arab kingdom inherited a stately outline, the epitome of which is its dominant castle, the largest castle in the Algarve. The castle enjoys wonderful views of the town, its fertile fields covered with orange trees and the beautiful River Arade. Silves is a charming, crumbling place, brimming with narrow, cobbled streets lined with lively alfresco cafes, restaurants and shops. It boasts a Moorish-style garden which is open daily to visitors and a fabulous, lively market where you can stock up on fresh provisions for the villa.
Villa Vale Silves sits on a quiet country lane overlooking fabulous lush fields. The villa was built in 2009 by its Dutch owners in collaboration with architects. Its rooms are drowned in natural light and filled with quirky, oversized contemporary art. The design features are fabulous enjoying Moorish accents and gorgeous colour pops. The main villa offers five bedroom suites, a spacious trendy living space and a superb kitchen, all imaginatively styled. The container suite offers one bedroom, a bathroom, living room and a terrace. Villa Vale Silves is perfect for large multi-generational families or groups of friends.  The outdoor spaces are immensely stylish and full of chic, quality furnishings. The surrounding gardens are stunning.
Under a rich, wooden beamed sloping ceiling, the living area of Villa Vale Silves is tremendous. It is partially divided by a chimney with a modern wood burner and a modern artwork above. Facing the fire and also enjoying superb garden and pool views, is a sumptuous leather corner sofa and super cool chairs. On the other side of the chimney is the smart, sophisticated dining space which enjoys a fabulous wooden table, leather upholstered chairs, cool artwork and gorgeous hanging lighting. Next to this, the kitchen is totally dreamy with polished concrete work surfaces and an island, fabulous sizeable appliances and unique splashbacks. Doors open to an outstanding covered terrace which boasts beautiful lounge and alfresco dining furniture. This extensive and beautifully finished terrace overlooks the pool and beautifully planted borders. The gardens are an absolute delight with manicured lawns, vibrant colour and a very welcome children’s playground. To the side of the villa is a sensational outdoor kitchen, alfresco lounge area and dining table which sits on a slightly lower level. It is stunning and there is no excuse for your barbecue masters not to come up with a delicious feast in this state-of-the-art summer kitchen. The 12m x 5m swimming pool does not use chlorine and is surrounded by luxury loungers and parasols which sit on the wooden deck. To the far side are beautiful, architectural plants which add colour and beauty to this magical scene.
The guest studio is fantastic, a super cool, bright red space with chic furnishings, its own living space and slightly bohemian hammocks and furniture. Your teenagers will be dying to grab this for themselves!
The villa’s five bedroom suites are absolutely wonderful, all enjoying sumptuous beds, fabulously striking art, garden, pool countryside views and extremely stylish, beautifully fitted ensuite bathrooms. Guests also enjoy an integrated music system throughout the villa with iPod connectivity and a natural air-circulation system. It will be hard to leave this haven though the delights of Silves, the Algarve’s amazing golf courses and the Arade River await. Villa Vale Silves enjoys a delightful rural setting in the natural park of Vale da Vila. The villa is roughly ten minutes drive from the beautiful Silves and not far from the market town of Messines. Silves is one of the most beautiful towns of the Algarve, boasting a castle, lively bars and restaurants, a medieval festival and stunning architecture. Silves was conquered from the Moors in 1189 by King Sancho I but the Moors were only fully expelled in 1242 by King Afonso III. Its ancient mosque was transformed into the town’s cathedral, starting in Gothic style and completed during the Baroque period. Opposite the cathedral is the Igreja da Misericordia, much of which dates back to the 18th century. The lively market is very popular and an excellent place to stock up before using your phenomenal summer kitchen.
Messines, otherwise known as Sao Bartolomeu de Messines, is an interesting town offering an authentic slice of rural Algarve life. Over recent years, a number of new restaurants have popped up and there is a lovely local community. It is worth a stop.
The closest beach to Villa Vale Silves is Armacao da Pera, a twenty minute drive away. The stunning sandy beach stretches all the way to Gale and boasts plenty of beach bars and restaurants. There are other idyllic beaches within half an hour of the villa including Ferragudo, Carvoeiro and the stunning Praia da Rocha. Sitting at the mouth of the Arade River estuary, across the water from Portimao and Praia da Rocha, the delightful fishing village of Ferragudo has retained its charm and offers a wonderful riverfront promenade sprinkled with palms. The main square, Praca Rainha Dona Leonor, is lined with charming cafes, a perfect spot for breakfast and coffee. There are many fish restaurants looking out over the river. A warren of narrow cobbled streets rises up into the old village, sprinkled with attractive whitewashed cottages. The terrace in front of the village church offers superb views over the Arade River and Portimao, as well as the closest beach Praia da Angrinha. This beach is home to the medieval Castelo de Sao Joao de Arade which commands an elevated position on the headland at the southern end of the beach. The castle dates back to the 16th century, sitting opposite the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina in Praia da Rocha. Ferragudo’s main town beach is Praia Grande which lies at the far side of the castle. The sheltered waters of the Arade beaches are ideal for watersports including kayaking and windsurfing.
Portimao sits proudly on the opposite side of the Arade River. It brings delicious seafood, shopping and waterfront promenades to the table, along with one of the Algarve’s best beaches, Praia da Rocha around the corner. Portimao is a sailor’s delight with elite competitions taking place. Long before tourism arrived in Portimao, the town made a living from fishing and canning. The fascinating Museu de Portimao is housed in the evocative old Feu Cannery and impresses guests with the history of the industry. The Megalithic Monuments of Alcarlar are very close to Portimao on the hilltop and spreading out over 10 hectares. There are burial monuments in the complex and a vast cairn with a shape resembling a beehive. Portimao has a wonderful market, the Mercado Municipal, which is a great place to stock up on supplies for the villa. There is also a special farmers market on Saturdays. The riverside esplanade is remarkable and perfect for a stroll beside the swaying palms. It is beautiful at night with the twinkly lights on the opposite bank. There are many opportunities for seafaring excursions from Portimao. You can take a voyage on a replica pirate ship, look out for dolphins, take on some water sports or simply enjoy the magnificent coastline.
Lagoa is another wonderful historic town you should see during your trip. It is brimming with whitewashed houses that used to rise above a lagoon. Now only the name remains as well as the local delicious wine. The cultural centre of Lagoa was originally built in 1710 as the Convent of Saint Joseph but it fell into disrepair and opened as the culture centre after a major renovation. You will discover exhibitions of paintings, photography and sculpture. The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz, which means Church of Our Lady of Light, is beautiful and worth a visit. The Lady in Red art gallery is located in an unused industrial space of a big wine producer. It is a stunning display of modern art. At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning- Private chef/cook/catering- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge- Local day-trips or tours- Airport pick-up/drop-off- Babysitting/childcare services
Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team.
Please note that all services are subject to availability and must be requested in advance and that due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. Prices are on request. We will always do our best to fulfil your requests!