Casa das Bicas is a well-equipped vacation home ideal for family and friends’ holidays wanting to get away from it all. This newly built contemporary and spacious villa is located halfway between trendy Comporta and understated Melides, a peaceful rural setting on the stunning Alentejo coast. Conde Nast Traveller considers the region “The secret beach spot to know in Portugal”!

The villa totals of 282 metres and is surrounded almost all way around by shaded terraces for outdoor living and meals with family and friends.  The property sits within 1 1/2 hectares of private grounds with pathways winding their way around Mediterranean shrubs and trees, connecting a fire pit circle to the villa and pool, and enjoying bucolic views over rural fields. The garden has recently been planted and is developing.

An open plan living/dining and kitchen room with sliding glass doors to the exterior is the main living centre of the villa whilst a terrace covered by a shady pergola surrounds almost all the house and is perfect for outdoor meals and chilling out. There are 3 double bedrooms all opening onto to covered terrace areas. Two extra guests can be accommodated in either the mezzanine level of bedroom 2 or in the super spacious playroom with sofa beds, which is ideal for teenagers wanting to keep some independence. Air conditioning/central heating are included throughout, as well as an open fireplace in the playroom.

Everything happens at its own pace in this region of Portugal. The pretty whitewashed village of Melides with its blue-trim painted houses is 25 minutes away and has a handful of eateries and cafés, artisans’ shops and a market, but it’s all very low key. Alternatively, the buzz of trendy Comporta is also just 25 minutes driving time, in the opposite way.

The Alentejo coastline between Comporta and Melides has dramatic canyons of colourful sandstone – gold, orange and cream – that give way to a long sandy beach and the vivid blue Atlantic ocean, whilst a large lagoon cuts across the land and flows down to the beach attracting ducks, birds of prey and waders. The Melides lagoon also offers a unique and unspoiled environment for practicing stand-up paddle boarding, whilst the popular beaches of Pego and Carvalhal (Comporta) which are located equidistance going north, feature a range of hip beach bars and surfing amenities.

WARNING NOTES: Due to some unprotected drops from exterior terraces and staircases, young children need to be supervised.