Quinta de São João

Quinta de São João

Quinta de São João The lawned garden The comfortable living room Quinta de São João The pretty garden One of the bedrooms Quinta de São João View from an upstairs window The dining area Lovely views along the coast from the gardens

Quinta de São João

Madeira and Porto Santo › Funchal & South-East Madeira › Estreito de Câmara de Lobos

This lovely old house enjoys a hillside setting a short drive west from Funchal, boasting panoramic ocean views from its well-kept gardens.

Standing in beautiful gardens on the hillside below the village of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, this substantial old family home gives guests a unique opportunity to experience a taste of the lifestyle enjoyed by the Madeiran gentry in days gone by. Although fully renovated to provide comfortable holiday accommodation, the house retains considerable period charm, with many of the original furnishings and countless family keepsakes kept in place to be admired by guests. A quirky feature is the old servants' staircase close to the kitchen, so that the family would not have to rub shoulders with the staff on the main stairs. The house even has its own adjacent family chapel, where services are still held at weekends, although this has access from a separate lane, so you needn't worry about worshippers walking through your garden once a week!

On the upper floor of the quinta are three bedrooms, all with lovely old double beds, including the master bedroom which has a four-poster bed. This bedroom, and one of the others, have en suite shower rooms, whilst a further bathroom across the hall serves the third bedroom. There is also a small resting room with a sofa bed on this floor, which may be used as an extra bedroom for parties where not everyone wishes to share a double bed.

Downstairs, a wide stone arch separates the dining area from the spacious lounge, which is full of remarkable antiques and fascinating objects. The kitchen and utility room are rustic in style, with large wooden cabinets, but have all the equipment needed for preparing proper family meals, including a fridge, a freezer and a full cooker, as well as a washing machine.

If you prefer to dine al fresco, there is also a barbecue area in the garden, which enjoys splendid views down towards the ocean. The nearest restaurant is about 500 metres downhill, so it is possible to eat out without driving (although the walk back is steep), whilst a similar distance away in the opposite direction you will find an unpretentious bar-café where local workers stop off for coffee and snacks. For a wider selection of eating places, both the small harbour town of Câmara de Lobos and the upper village of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos can be reached in around 5 minutes using the hire car that is included in the holiday price, whilst the city of Funchal with all its attractions and facilities is just a 15-minute drive or so away.

Winter 2010/Summer 2011 on sale now, please contact us for prices and availability.

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