Casa do Alto

A privileged position on the upper slopes of the charming local village of Venade gives this striking home a bird’s eye view across a picture-postcard patchwork of rolling countryside, and an ideal setting for its imaginative up-to-the moment design. Glistening invitingly in the distance, a shimmer of blue signals the proximity of the nearby ocean.

As the entrance door opened and we were invited inside, we could not contain our admiration for the creator of this innovative design. With their emphasis on relaxation and rest, the living areas flow seamlessly from one to the next in a light-filled open-plan layout. Ahead, a fully glazed wall of floor-to-ceiling windows showcases the panoramic vista, with the multi shades of green of the natural landscape injecting a restorative air of calm.

The owner’s decision to locate this living area on the first floor of the building means that this captivating vista can be fully appreciated, whilst the patio doors that lead from here to the swimming pool and its surrounding terraces provide the indoor-outdoor living experience so appreciated whilst on holiday. Downstairs, an equally pleasing sense of spaciousness prevails. A wide corridor leads the way to the bedrooms, which are smartly furnished and lined on their southwestern side with patio doors that open onto the lawned garden.

Its location, in the pretty village of Venade, means that Casa do Alto is within easy reach of the dune-backed beaches of the Costa Verde. Just 15 minutes away by car is Praia de Foz, the first of a series of picturesque sandy beaches that stretch southwards from the attractive riverside town of Caminha. All amenities and a pleasing range of restaurants can be found on and around the cobbled square of Caminha’s centre, just 4.2km from the house.