A Million Mosaics

Just about a kilometre from the nearest sandy beach of Praia do Cavalo Preto, you will find this striking holiday villa in the quintessential Portuguese town of Quarteira.

We love how this home brings the outside in and, indeed, the inside out – thanks in part to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the living spaces with light and provide direct access to the garden and its outdoor kitchen with dining table, laid-back seating area, and shaded terraces that are perfect for getting out of the sun and into a good book.

In the summer months in particular, the carefully designed exterior spaces of the property are all about comfortable outdoor living – and we think you'll be amazed and just how much time you can spend outside when you have all the facilities you could need (not to mention that glorious Portuguese sun blazing triumphantly overhead).

One of the best bits of this home has got to be that swimming pool. Tiled in a myriad of tiny mosaic tiles, the shades of which span from light turquoise to deep teal and so emulate the colours of the glistening Meditteranean Sea, and offering steps down into its refreshing waters, we think the prospect of a dip is simply too good to resist. Slide into the pool for the perfect morning wake-up call, before drying off in the sun and rejoining everyone else for breakfast to start the day off the right way.

Does today feel like a beach day? Or perhaps you'd rather amble into Quarteira or the other small towns that dot the hills here to check out some of the cafés, restaurants, and shops. Golfers, rejoice! The fabulous clubs of Val de Lobo, Vilamoura, and Quinto do Lago are just around 5 kilometres away, so you can look forward to teeing off on some of the finest courses the Algarve has to offer. Those with a hankering for unspoilt nature are in luck too, as the Parque Natura da Ria Formosa Nature Reserve is closeby and just waiting to be explored.

Home truths:
*At full occupancy, two guests will be sleeping on the sofa bed in the living area
*There is on-site covered parking for up to two vehicles here, plus more on the driveway
*The swimming pool isn't fenced, so children will need to be supervised at all times
*If you're staying longer than a week, your linens and towels will be changed every seven days at no extra cost
*During low season, check-in times may be more flexible – please contact your host at least one week prior to arrival to arrange the details