The whole family will enjoy a day at Aqualand water park
Located on the EN125 at Alcantarilha, close to Armaçao de Pera. Open daily from June. www.aqualand.pt
FROM
£ 1,215
PER WEEK
Accommodation
At a glance
- Sleeps 6
- 2 Double Bedrooms
- 1 Twin Bedroom
- 3 Bathrooms
- Air Conditioning
- WiFi
- Heated* Pool
- Table Tennis
- Beach & Restaurants 2km
- Ground Floor: Galleried entrance hall. Cloakroom (WC). Living room (A/C, ceiling fan, fireplace, Satellite (HD) TV, Blu-ray, DVD & CD, iPad/iPhone dock, PlayStation 3, WiFi) with home office area and doors to poolside terrace. Kitchen/diner (oven, microwave, dishwasher) with doors to terrace. Utility room (washing machine) with door to car port. Principal double bedroom (A/C, ceiling fan, DVD/smart TV) with king size bed, dressing area, en suite bathroom (plus separate large shower) and doors to poolside terrace.
- First Floor: Large landing with seating area. Double bedroom (A/C, ceiling fan) with en suite shower room and large private terrace. Twin bedroom (A/C, ceiling fan) with en suite shower room and two Juliette balconies.
- Outside: Poolside shower. Table Tennis. Barbecue. Open and shaded terraces. Lawned areas. Fully enclosed grounds. Private car-port and further private parking.
- Private heated* swimming pool (9m x 5m) with corner Roman steps and retractable hard cover.
Overlooking a gentle, sparsely populated valley and with distant views to the glittering sea, Papoila sits peacefully off a country lane in the little hamlet of Torre between Armação de Pera and Porches. A welcoming and comfortable retreat, you are at the same time only a five minute drive from some of the area's loveliest beaches and within equally easy reach of the bright lights, vibrant activities and excellent amenities of several coastal resorts.
A thoroughly modern home from home, electric gates usher you onto a large, traditional cobbled driveway where a car port and covered main entrance offer cooling shade. Lawned areas bordered with bougainvillea, hibiscus and citrus trees surround the property and an attractive secret garden, home to several 300 year old carob trees, provides an inviting spot for contemplative moments (or perhaps a little siesta?). Nearby, the private pool has a retractable hard cover for added security and a large barbecue with dining area is perfect for enjoying long balmy evenings in the company of friends and family.
South facing, fully enclosed and offering good privacy, the grounds at Papolia also boast appealing views out over the valley to the glittering ocean.
Welcoming you to the house, the high galleried entrance hall contains an eye-catching, stained glass window featuring bright red poppies (the inspiration for the house name) and a collection of colourful, original artwork lining the staircase. Patio doors in the open plan living area allow light to flood in and further enhance the already relaxing ambience. Completing the ground floor are a cloakroom, utility room and a spacious, en suite bedroom with a king size bed, dressing area and air conditioning while two more equally appealing en suite bedrooms, each with air conditioning and either a terrace or Juliette balcony, are found on the first floor.
Armação de Pera (2km) offers all amenities and a variety of excellent restaurants serving deliciously tasty fresh fish and seafood dishes. A long sandy beach borders the town, just one of the many that grace this famous coastline (Praia Grande at 3km and Salgados at 5km are two other notable, family-friendly beaches close by). Birdwatchers and ramblers will enjoy the renowned lake and nature reserve at Salgados Lagoon (4.7km) which provides an abundance of waterfowl, vegetation and coastal walk-ways while the fascinating 'Sandy City' sand sculpture site (9km) exhibits a different theme each year and is a magical place to visit at dusk when the sculptures are imaginatively illuminated with candles.
The beautiful old Algarvean capital of Silves (21km) makes a lovely day trip. With its Moorish castle of red sandstone rising over fertile citrus orchards, the town remains an important cultural centre and the interesting Museo Arqueological houses various Stone and Iron Age artefacts, together with pieces recovered from Roman and Arab settlements.
- The owners of Papoila respectfully request that guests refrain from smoking inside the house.
- No stag or hen parties or groups all under 18 years old.
- *The pool can be heated (minimum 48hrs notice to be fully effective) at a cost of €175 per week paid directly to the house owners.
Pricing & Availability
All Prices are per property, not per person.
Location of Papoila
Locality
Great Things to Do Near Papoila
Wine tasting
Visit the Quinta da Miradouro winery near Guia to sample the Vida Nova wines specially produced for Sir Cliff Richard. Tours are available but must be pre-booked. Visit www.winesvidanova.com or if you simply wish to purchase you can visit Cellar Door Shop.
A church with a difference
Visit the spooky Chapel of Bones, (Capela dos Ossos) at Alcantarilha near Guia whose walls and ceiling are clad with approximately 1,500 skulls. The chapel adjoins the church.
Explore the town of Lagos
famous for its sea faring traditions and the former capital of the Algarve. Take a rest in the Praça Infante Dom Henrique and enjoy a well earned cool drink.
Needing some retail therapy?
Visit the Algarve Shopping Centre, on the EN125 at Guia. As well as a great variety of shops, there are bars and restaurants for those who need a little respite from carrying those heavy shopping bags and to rest those weary feet. Open daily from 10am till late.
Go Dolphin spotting!
Take a boat trip to experience dolphin watching with Dream Wave (Albufeira Marina). www.dreamwavealgarve.com
It is worth taking a trip to the border with Spain
at Vila Real de Santo Antonio, on the banks of the river Guadiana, which forms the border with Spain. Explore the twin castles of Castro Marim which were strategically placed to protect the settlement for many centuries.
Explore the very local town of Loulé
and witness craftsmen at work in many traditions such as copper, tin, brass and wrought iron mainly in the streets around where the market is held. Other items manufactured locally are shoes, cane furniture, pottery, wax candles and harnesses. Many a fascinating hour can be spent watching the craftsmen plying their trade.
Capture the atmosphere of Faro
steeped in history, by taking a walk around the old town, which is encircled by medieval walls. Evidence of the rich history of the town can be found in the Museu Arqueologico including a Roman floor mosaic and a collection of Moorish oil lamps. A visit to the Cathedral is a 'must'.
Spend a day at Zoomarine
one of the biggest attractions on Algarve. It is both a theme park, Aquarium and there are water shows with dolphins, seals and sea lions to entertain all ages. Located on the the EN125 at Guia. www.zoomarine.com
Birdwatching
The Algarve is a stop off point for migrating birds and as such is a haven for birdwatchers. One of the most important sites is the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, stretching east from Faro these wetlands and lagoons are considered to be amongst the most important in Europe in terms of birdlife. Amongst the species that have been spotted are white stork, flamingo, hoopoe, stone curlew, Caspian Tern, Iberian Chiffchaff..
Visit some charming inland villages
Alte is a popular village with white washed houses and narrow cobbled streets. Explore the charming little shops and then relax in the shade with a picnic by the Fontes and have a refreshing swim in the freshwater pool.
The village of Guia
is renowned for the number of restaurants famous for serving the typical Algarvean dish of chicken piri piri. Naturally, they all claim to be the best but you can be assured that they are all very good and represent excellent value for money.
Visit the World of Sand
This international sand sculpture festival is usually held between May and October. Reportedly the biggest sand city in the world, this fascinating and spectacle will amaze all members of the family! There are sand sculpture activities for children and it is illuminated by night. Located on the EN125 between Porches and Lagoa, opposite the Noel International School.
Visit the attractive fishing village of Ferragudo
which sits at the mouth of the Rio Arade, on the opposite banks to Portimao. Very much a working village, the quayside is dotted with fishermen's huts, artisans' workshops and a sprinkling of excellent fish restaurants. The nearby sandy beach of Praia Grande is home to an excellent windsurfing school. Narrow cobbled alleyways wind their way uphill to the impressive church with great views.
Visit the Sitio das Fontes
just a few kilometres north of Estombar, between Lagoa and Portimao. This old mill sits on a branch of the Rio Arade and has been made into an ecomuseum and includes the miller's house, the old mill and the working waterwheel. There is a picnic area, children's play area, amphitheatre and an environmental education area established to help preserve the surrounding wetlands.
For a day out with a difference, visit the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
which stretches along 37 miles of coastline east of Faro from Olhao to Tavira. It was created to protect the ecosystem of the area and is an important breeding area for wetland birds.
Try sardines along the quay at Portimao
freshly caught and simply served with salad and local wine. Explore the narrow streets of the old quarter with their fascinating shops, some specialising in leather goods.
When in Rome..
don't forget to sample the many different types of port wine! Chilled white port makes an interesting aperitif and can be a serious rival to sherry. Accompanied by some delicious local olives, it's a great way to preface a supper of freshly grilled sardines!
Play Golf!
The Algarve is renowned for the quality of its golf courses, offering challenges for every standard of player. There are over 30 courses along the length of the region.
Nearby
Towns/Villages
| Armacao de Pera | 5 mins | |
| Albufeira | 20 mins | |
| Silves | 20 mins | |
| Ferragudo | 25 mins | |
| Lagos | 35 mins | |
| Loule | 35 mins | |
| Vilamoura | 35 mins | |
| Monchique | 40 mins | |
| Faro | 40 mins | |
| Tavira | 55 mins | |
| Vila Real de Sto. Antonio | 1 Hr 10 mins |
Beaches
| Armacao de Pera | 7 mins | |
| Gale Beach | 15 mins | |
| Albufeira Beach | 20 mins | |
| Benagil Beach | 20 mins | |
| Carvoeiro Beach | 20 mins | |
| Sao Rafael beach | 20 mins |
Airports
| Faro | 40 mins | |
| Sevilla | 2 Hrs | |
| Lisbon | 2 Hrs 30 mins |
