Petit Gloriana

About this property

Petit Gloriana is a charming, renovated countryside farmhouse that is within walking distance of the tranquil, sleepy village of Fonte de Louseiros, close to the historic town of Silves and the peaceful town of Alcantarilha. Just a little further south is the sun-drenched seaside resort of Armacao de Pera. Petit Gloriana is a single storey property that offers wonderful modern living and a splendid garden and pool. With four spacious bedrooms, it sleeps up to eight guests.

The red-hued town of Silves is nestled on the banks of the River Arade, dominated by one of the best-preserved castles in the Algarve. Silves was the capital of the ancient Arab kingdom of Algarve and retains many of its ancient nods to the past. It also boasts many charming outdoor cafes, some excellent restaurants, pretty fountains, a market hall and wonderful scented orange groves. Alcantarilha is a peaceful retreat within easy reach of the Algarve’s long sandy beaches and Portugal’s biggest waterpark. Sprinkled with whitewashed houses and a handful of traditional restaurants, Alcantarilha is utterly charming. Lagos and Albufeira are within very easy reach.

It is very easy to relax at Petit Gloriana. With a delightful, open plan living space, a wonderful porch for alfresco dining and a fabulous garden and swimming pool, there is plenty of space and it is quiet. This countryside farmhouse retains its traditional charm with gorgeous wooden, beamed ceilings and beautifully tiled floors throughout but it also offers modern bathrooms and very comfy furnishings. The farmhouse enjoys underfloor heating so it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, you will always be warm and toasty.

Petit Gloriana’s open plan living space is bright and airy. With double doors to the terrace, the white country kitchen sits at one end with its excellent stainless steel appliances, island and sociable breakfast bar. The living area sits in the middle of the room, under the atmospheric beamed ceiling and opposite the wood burning stove. The dining area follows this. The living space opens to a large covered terrace for alfresco lounging and dining using the villa’s built-in barbecue. It is a great spot to enjoy your favourite tipple while watching the children play in the garden and pool.

The villa’s bedrooms are comprised of two with double beds and ensuite bathrooms and two with twin beds. One of these boasts an ensuite shower room and the other has use of a separate private bathroom with a rain shower. Like the exterior of the villa, the bedrooms enjoy gorgeous blue and white seaside colour palettes. The same tiled floors and beamed ceilings run throughout the villa creating a delightful mix of natural materials and minimalist styling. The comfy beds are dressed all in white with blue colour splashes coming from headboards, chairs, art work or voile drapes at the doors and windows. If the bedrooms do not open directly to the terrace, they enjoy floor-to-ceiling doors with Juliet balconies so you can open the doors to enjoy a soft breeze. The bathrooms are all modern, white and immaculate.

The garden is very spacious with lush lawns, mature olive and palm trees and a hedge separating Petit Gloriana from the next property. The swimming pool is generous in size at 9m x 4.3m and no doubt the scene of much family fun. Children love the swing and the hammock that hangs between the trees. If you can bring yourselves to leave this peaceful spot, there is a lovely bar in the village and golf only 4km away, not to mention those vast beaches!

Petit Gloriana sits in a peaceful spot within walking distance of Fonte de Louseiros, a peaceful village close to the historic town of Silves and Alcantarilha. Sitting inland from the Algarve’s glorious sandy beaches, Alcantarilha is dotted with whitewashed houses weaved along its narrow cobbled streets. It boasts a few shops and some traditional restaurants and cafes. The intriguing Chapel of Bones has over a thousand skulls crammed into its 15th century walls and ceilings. Alcantarilha is a lovely quiet town which is only 7km from the nearest beach of Armacao de Pera.

Armacao de Pera is 15 km west of Albufeira, set in a wide sandy bay that reaches all the way to Gale, around 3 km away. There are also some smaller coves to the west, all carved into the ochre sandstone cliffs. You will see old, colourful fishing boats pulled up on the beach at the eastern edge of the resort. In the old part of the town, you will discover the 16th century fort with its good views of the beach. One of the best spots of the town is the headland of Nossa Senhora da Rocha. Roughly 1 km along the coast, past the beaches of Praia dos Tremocos and Praia dos Beijinhos, the jutting cliffs are home to a medieval fortress and a tiny chapel. Below the headland are the beaches of Praia Nova to the west and Praia da Senhora da Rocha to the east. The headland is the start of a popular coastal walk to Praia da Marinha.

Also close to Petit Gloriana are the cobbled streets of Silves, a gorgeous town with a fascinating history. This ancient Arab kingdom inherited a stately outline, the epitome of which is its red-hued 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 was conquered from the Moors in 1189 by King Sancho I but the Moors were only fully expelled in 1242 by King Afonso III. The 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. Silves is a crumbling place full of lively alfresco cafes and a Moorish-style garden which is open daily to visitors. A defunct cork factory is now home to a couple of museums and some bars and cafes. In August, the town hosts a lively beer festival. It is good to visit the town in the morning for its colourful riverfront market, near its 13th century bridge.

Albufeira’s Old Town is lined with charming restaurants, whitewashed houses and excellent, unique shops. There are over 100 restaurants in Albufeira, many serving super fresh fish straight from the marina. The marina is a top-notch, modern tourist destination in its own right, brimming with luxury yachts, colourful fishing boats and excellent, chic restaurants.  

Almancil is worth a visit. It is charming and typically Portuguese, brimming with cute cafes, restaurants, galleries displaying the local pottery and many artists workshops. The neighbouring village of Sao Lourenco boasts the most attractive church in probably the whole of the Algarve. It is decorated with characteristic blue tiles telling the life of its patron saint, beautiful azulejo work dating back to 1730. Very close to the church is the local centro cultural which hosts a range of art exhibitions and musical performances.

Accommodation

The Villa
Tastefully restored in 2016, Petit Gloriana is a 4 bed single-storey farmhouse full of character and fitted with underfloor heating throughout making it ideal for both winter and summer months.
Ground Floor
- Ample living room with comfortable seating, satellite TV, fireplace and access to the patio
- Open plan dining area for 8 people and access to the patio
- Well equipped kitchen with central island and access to the patio
- Bedroom with two single beds, access to a balcony and en-suite shower room
- Bedroom with two single beds, access to the terrace and en-suite bathroom with bath and rain shower
- Bedroom with two single beds, access to a balcony and en-suite shower room
- Bedroom with two single beds, access to a balcony and en-suite shower room
Exterior Grounds
- Private swimming pool (9 x 4.3 m; max depth 1.8 m)
- Large terrace and patio area
- Various sun loungers
- Outdoor dining
- Garden furniture
- Covered terrace
- Private parking
- Barbecue
Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi connection
- Central heating
- Hair dryer
- Iron facilities
- Washing machine