Beautifully Restored Farmhouse with Spectacular Views

Reduced from €1,595,000 to €1,295,000 (July 2012)

A beautifully restored and extended old farmhouse, bought in 2002 and rebuilt during 2003. Surrounded by wonderful gardens, a large lawn, and using large local rocks to create interesting varying levels, the house stands proud on a hillside in approximately 18,800 square metres of land and enjoys spectacular views.

Located North of Faro, 20 minutes from the Airport and the coast, near the hamlet of Azinheiro, with direct access from the road. Equidistant from Estoi and Sao Bras, both of which have shops, cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets. Central to the entire Algarve the house has easy access to golf courses, beaches, hospitals and administrative offices.

Currently the house is a large family home, with 5 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, utility room, large kitchen/breakfast room, lounge, dining room, study/snug, and gallery/library. The house has been designed so as to offer a separate private downstairs apartment if required. Ideal for a Granny Annex, Guest Accommodation or Rentals/B&B.

With its stone walls and timber beamed ceilings, wooden floors upstairs, a polished calcada lounge floor and locally glazed floor tiles this is a completely unique and stylish house. Large ‘see through’ log fires in both the lounge/kitchen and dining room/study keep the house warm and cosy in the winter; the thick walls which offer insulation in winter also mean that the house remains cool in the summer.

The property has many stunning features, including a bathroom with a vaulted ceiling, galleried living area and copper sinks with the original part of the house dating back over 100 years.

The hexagonal summer house is constructed in timber, the closed half being  double-glazed. Currently used as an artist’s studio, its shower, WC and kitchenette mean that it can also be a bed-sit. The covered terrace offers fabulous views of Spain and the sea to the East, and Sao Bras to the West. The pool is 11 metres by 6 metres and is tiled in sand-coloured mosaics. The ‘beach’ offers easy access for either children or the less agile (no ladder required) and there is a built-in bench in the deep end of the pool. The pump house is located under the pool and is accessed by steps. It has two filtration pumps and plenty of storage space.

The gardens were designed and constructed at the same time as the building of the house, the main feature being the giant rocks, which were excavated from the land. Mature trees include carob, olive and fig. Shrubs and perennial ground cover create a profusion of colour throughout the year. Easily maintained, and fully irrigated, the garden can be enjoyed without back-breaking weeding. Half of the land belonging to house is cultivated, with a further 10,000 metres left to nature. Planning Permission may be sought for a further property, with its own access, to the west of the house. Planning would have to be sought as this is a PDM protected area.

The property has Mains 3 phase electricity; borehole water (204 metres deep): mains water is available, but has not been connected. Soak-away septic tank. Three hot water immersion heaters, which can be switched off depending on occupancy. Water softener. Electric entrance gates and ample parking. Satellite TV, two landline phones. Entirely double-glazed with mosquito net screens. Fully insulated with cork, and wall cavity insulation in the newer part of the property. The original house walls are half a metre thick. The roof is tiled with local Santa Catarina roof tiles. All timber used in the construction has been imported from Germany and is fully treated. The garden is fully irrigated.