Villa Belvedere

Villa Belvedere stands on the cliffs above Praia da Salema, on the stretch of the western Algarve that stayed low-rise while the centre of the coast did not. Five bedrooms, ten guests, and the Atlantic filling the view from almost everywhere in the house.

The house is unusually well equipped for its size. There is a sauna, an outdoor jacuzzi, a gym in the building, a heated pool, a piano and an indoor fireplace — the kind of list that usually belongs to a house twice as large. A dedicated workspace and a gated setting make longer stays practical.

Salema is still a fishing village, which in the western Algarve is no longer a given. The beach below is one of the good ones, the coastline west towards Sagres is protected parkland, and the restaurants are the sort that do not need to advertise. A chef can be arranged in the house if you would rather not go out at all.