Casa Modesta- Olhão, The Algarve

Welcome to Casta Modesta. A white haven of tranquility, tucked a stones throw away from the sleepy Fishermans village of Olhão, in The Algarve. A place so warm, so, so welcoming, so peaceful and so serene. You cannot but help but slow, slow, slow right down as soon as you step foot into this rural, beautiful yet simple, remote yet rather special landscape.

After our rather exciting weekend in Lisbon, we jumped in our hire car and road tripped down to The Algarve, a two and a half hour easy drive along the quietest of roads, almost empty. Ten million people live in Portugal and when you take into account that nine million live in London, you can understand why it felt so quiet, either that or most of the country are still queuing at the ticket machine at Lisbon train station ! (See previous post) I digress, so after a few days in the city we were looking forward to relaxing and collapsing, and on arrival at Casa Modesta we literally just melted into this beautiful landscape.

Casa Modesta is an architectural dream, once a family home recreated, restructured and redesigned by Carlos and Vânia on the original footprints of their Great Grandparents’ family home. Modern in design, with geometric lines, cubic whitewashed buildings, red limestone pathways, and terra cotta tiles, all inviting the light to pour in and fill the quiet spaces. Although modern design on the eye, it is in keeping with traditions of the original house, quiet nooks with vintage cushions, Portuguese plates, such impeccable attention to detail, a synthesis of old and new living as happily as one. Set within the Ria Formosa National Park, it is a world away from your typical tourist trap Algarve.

There are nine bedrooms,which are minimal, uncluttered with crisp white bedcovers, and cedar furnishings. Figs are left by your beside plucked from the garden opposite. The bathrooms being a bit of a show stopper with huge brass features and terracotta tiles and stucco walls. Follow your own private stairway to heaven to the rooftop terrace with stunning views towards the water and nature reserve, complete with deck chairs and huge fabric cushions, a real Moorish feel. Soak up the sun or the sunset or the stars. Each room also has its own hammock and swinging over your own square of soft sand, under the blue sky, was rather a dreamy existence, I’m not sure you can get anymore relaxed.

It is calm, serene and invitingly very still, with just sound and movement from the rather dazzling swimming pool – Heaven!

With delicious breakfasts of local fruits, artisan yogurt, homemade granola and homemade cakes, taken by the rather dazzling pool. Tables set with vintage style crockery and even a morning hello from Fernando the sweetest and fluffiest Golden pup of the house, all rather quite perfect!

We spent our days by the pool and visiting the stunning Algarve beaches. Praia da Marinha is just under an hours drive from Casa Modesta, which was postcard perfect, rugged backdrops, golden sand, and clear blue waters, still rather Baltic but overwhelmingly beautiful. We borrowed bikes from the house and rode through the marshes, cacti and olive trees to the beaches of Ria Formosa, to swim in the, I can happily say warmer, lagoon, very quiet and very calm, and, well you cannot beat a bike ride to the beach.

On our last night we ate dinner in the garden, next to the pool, under fairy lights and a pink sky. We feasted on olives, freshly plucked salads, garden vegetable paella and finished with the creamiest fig homemade ice cream, which in no word of a lie was the nicest ice cream to have passed my lips….and belive me there have been a few. An evening in the garden, which now all seems too good to have been true.

Three glorious days, with the kindest of host who was so friendly and welcoming into the heart of his home. It was as if we were in our own little secret bubble.