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Price Range: £1262 to £1646 (GBP)

The property
Belonging to the same owners, the Quinta d'Alegria, is above and behind Casa Belflores (Ref.5750), boasting quite superb views of the Bay of Funchal, and out to sea. The Quinta lies in a large garden, planted with palm trees, camellias and avocado pear trees. This traditional country house, once home to a Victorian Madeira Wine shipper, was built in 1871, has recently been lovingly restored to make a very special luxury holiday home. The villa's origins are reflected in its elegant and stylish decor, with old wooden floors and some antique furniture, whilst more modern conveniences are evident in the well-equipped kitchen, the spacious bathrooms, and the sparkling swimming pool. Surrounding the swimming pool (which has steps at one end leading into the water and is 1 m shallow to 2.1 m deep) are lush green lawns, a BBQ and a sun-soaked patio area. Also in the garden is an old Casa de Fresco or summerhouse. Looking over the wall from here gives guests a bird's eye view of the famous toboggan run down the Caminho de Monte. On the ground floor of the house, decorated in old colonial style, are the lounge/diner with an open fireplace; a modern kitchen with terracotta tiled floor, a conservatory style entrance, and a laundry room. Upstairs the three prettily decorated bedrooms are all carpeted and have lovely views. A double room has its own ensuite bathroom whilst another double and twin room share an identical second bathroom. One of the bedrooms can take a folding bed for a child. The local bus stop and taxi rank are both nearby and provide transport into Funchal, unless you fancy half an hour's walk (1.5 Km) down a rather steep hill, but a more unusual method of transport is to hop into one of the wickerwork toboggans which leave from just around the corner. A local shop selling essentials, a chemist and a couple of restaurants can be found just a few minutes walk from the villa. Daily housekeeping and regular linen and towels change. Private garage for guests. Sleeps 6 adults + 1 child, welcome package for first breakfast included. Arrivals/Departures: Mondays. Poolheating: GBP 5,-/p. day. Advanced booking required.

Funchal
Madeira's capital, Funchal, is an enchanting town set on a glittering bay against a background of soaring green mountains. Winding cobbled streets meander between elegant colonial-style buildings, nestling into the shelter of the verdant hillside. Funchal's historic core overlooks the harbour and features some fine government buildings and stately 18th-century mansions. Its deep natural harbour attracted early settlers in the 15th century. What to see. The simple whitewashed Sé Cathedral was built between 1486 and 1514. Inside, its main features are the magnificent mudejar ceiling of Madeira cedar wood and the voluptuous Baroque carving of the golden Sacramento chapel to the right of the main altar. Now a museum, the Quinta das Cruzes on Calçada do Pico is the house where the island's discoverer, João Gonçalves Zarco, once lived. Next door is the pretty 16th century church of Santa Clara where he lies buried. The Old Blandy Wine Lodge occupies part of a former Franciscan friary dating back to the 17th century. Guided visits include a tour of the cellars and a wine-tasting session. Nearby. Opened to the public in 1960, the Botanical Gardens on the edge of town display plants from all over the world, including desert cacti, rainforest orchids and South African proteas. The famous toboggan ride from Monte to Funchal is an exhilarating experience and takes approximately 20 minutes. Madeiran tobogganing was invented as a form of passenger transport around 1850. Much frequented by Sir Winston Churchill in the 1950s, the pretty fishing village of Câmara de Lobos to the west of Funchal offers spectacular views of the world's second-highest sea cliff, Cabo Girão (589 m). Also within easy reach of Funchal is the deep valley location of Curral das Freiras (Nuns' Refuge) near the centre of the island.

Madeira Island
Come and sample this feast of breathtaking sheer cliffs overlooking the sea. Let yourself succumb to the charms of Madeira. It is not difficult. First, there's the island's exceptional climate, with its mild temperatures all year round (between 16ºC and 25ºC) and its exuberant natural features and tropical vegetation, in which flowers and fruit have been turned into a genuine cult. Then there's its rich historical heritage and luxury hotels - attractions enough to satisfy even the most demanding of tourists. First discovered by the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco, this beautiful island, 700 km from Casablanca and 900 km from Lisbon, soon became a major port of call for the caravels ploughing the waves on their way to the distant lands of the Far East. Come and sample this feast of breathtaking beauty: sheer cliffs overlooking the sea, natural swimming-pools carved out of the rocks, high mountains swathed in mist, narrow footpaths running alongside the «levadas» or irrigation channels, offering the visitor the possibility of countryside walks in the midst of the most extraordinary landscape. As soon as you arrive in Funchal, the island's capital, you will probably find yourself bumping into all kinds of famous people, for this is traditionally one of their favourite spots for a relaxing holiday. Overlooking a wide and sheltered bay, the city successfully blends together its special vocation as a tourist resort and its ability to provide all kinds of cultural events that testify to its history, amongst which one of the special highlights is its colourful festivals. You will also certainly enjoy the traditional embroidery and basketwork, revealing the great talent and skilled hands of the island's inhabitants, who have produced some truly genuine works of art. Not forgetting the famous fortified «Madeira» wine, which for more than four hundred years has spread the name and flavour of the island all round the world. It is well worth taking the time to extend your visit a little further to the north east so that you can discover the island of Porto Santo, roughly 40 km away. Although this is much flatter than its «mother-island», there is a wonderfully extensive beach waiting for you here, with sands that are famous for their great therapeutic properties. At Vila Baleira, the island's picturesque capital, you must make sure to visit the house where Christopher Columbus once lived.

Funchal centre distance 1.5 km

Property Features
Sleeps 6
Doublebeds 2
Twinbeds 1
Cots 1
Bathrooms 2
Satellite 1
Cooker
Microwave
Fridge
Freezer
Linenprovided
Traffic Low
Sightseeing 1
Romantic
Pets
Openfire
Patio
Balcony
Privatepool
Airport Funchal airport
Airportdistance 25 km
Sailing 15 Minutes away
Walking On site
Cycling 99 Minutes away
Horseriding 15 Minutes away
Golf 15 Minutes away
Tennis 15 Minutes away
Garden