Cottage Casa Mia

About the Place

Casa Mia Messines is a Portuguese cottage Algarve set in extensive private grounds in the central of the Algarve near Alte and Silves. At 5 minutes drive from São Bartolomeu de Messines a charming village where you can find all you need.
Would you like being away of tourists and immerse yourself in local life, even in high season? Looking for a friendly, cheerful, affordable and comfortable cottage in the Algarve for up to five people? With a large garden behind the cottage Messines with olive and almond trees, privacy and child-friendly bath? Would you like sun, relaxation, beautiful mountains and beaches less than half an hour away form your holiday cottage Algarve? Do you enjoy delicious and affordable food in local restaurants, you fancy a walk, enjoy scenic views or lazy reading in a hammock? Casa Mia is the ideal holiday cottage in the Algarve for you!

Casa Mia, is a nice, basic holiday cottage, between Messines and Alte, in the centre of the Algarve, Portugal. The little holiday villa sleeps max 4 adults and 1 child, and has a large, private garden to relax and unwind, with a small pool. Located close to market town Messines, where you can find everything you need, and not far from picturesque Alte. Also the historic town of Silves is not far, and within a reach of less then half an hour you find various nice beaches, like Albufeira, Armacao de Pera and Carvoeiro. Casa Mia, located in the Central Algarve, a nice base to start your holiday in the Algarve, Portugal, to enjoy the Real Algarve, and relax and unwind!

Accommodation

Casa Mia is a light and friendly cottage in the Algarve. The cottage Algarve, is built in 2005, is basic and child friendly.
The open living.dining area with fireplace is adjacent to a terrace with a panoramic view of the surroundings. There is a small satellite TV, radio / CD player and two DVD players.

Casa Mia had two bedrooms, of which 1 double, and a twin bedroom, plus extra bed for a child, plus cot.

In the well equipped kitchen of the cottage Messines, you will find a gas hob with oven, dishwasher, fridge, blender, electric kettle, microwave, coffee machine, juicer, toaster, washing machine and iron.
There is shared shower room with sink has a beautiful view of the garden and the adjacent orange grove.
There is a  separate toilet with bidet.

The cottage Algarve has a large stock of towels, linen, dishes and a well hidden safe.

Outside

The cottage Mia is easy to recognize by the suns at the front and is located in the hamlet Monto Novo da Portela near the town of São Bartolomeu de Messines. Locals call Casa Mia the house with the suns.

Three lovely terraces
On the roof of the the cottage Algarve you find, to an old Portuguese tradition from the Algarve, a large (sleep) terrace where you have a fantastic view of the whole area. The mattresses and sleeping bags are ready!

At the entrance of Casa Mia Messines, floor level, is a nice terrace - with dining table - adjacent to the living room and kitchen. From here you have nice views too! Under the cottage Algarve is a shady and covered terrace with hammocks and a large dining table.
Furthermore, there is lots of garden furniture, such as sun beds and parasols. Casa Mia Algarve has also two barbecues.

Behind the cottage Algarve is a large private garden. Here you find some old almond and olive trees, little palm trees, oleander and bougainvillea. The garden offers many places to relax.

There is a little shallow (65 cm) pool. Ideal for children but for adults nice to cool down. Adjacent to the little pool of the cottage Messines is a small terrace under a fig tree, with some table and chairs.

Surroundings

Casa Mia Messines is in the center of the Algarve, half an hour drive from Faro airport. Beaches you find within half hour to the south coast and an hour on the west coast. The cottage Algarve is close to the toll road, that makes it easy to reach Lisbon or Seville, Spain (2.5 hours drive).

Casa Mia is located in a quiet hamlet called the Monto Novo Portela that belongs to the village of São (S) Bartolomeu (B) de Messines. Within walking distance is a convenience store, where you can buy everything from fresh bread to work boots. In the cafe next door they have good coffee. Here you can take a public bus to Albufeira.

With 5 minutes drive you are in S.B. de Messines where you find all amenities. There is a traditional, covered vegetables, fruit and fish market, a garage, a pharmacy and a post office. There is also a train station with direct links to Lisbon. Messines Algarve has many local cafes and restaurants where you drink coffee for little money and eat local specialties.

Shopping outside the village
Within 20 minutes drive is historic Silves: the village with the storks' nests. There you will find two large supermarkets. Furthermore, is Guia (Albufeira direction) 15 minutes drive from the cottage Algarve, a huge shopping mall, the "Algarve shopping Center" with a large supermarket and trendy shops with famous fashion brands.

Regional Markets
The magazine 'The Algarve Resident', which you can buy at the local kiosk in Messines, you wil find where the regional markets are held. On the second Monday of the month, the regional market in Algoz, on the third Monday in Silves and on the fourth Monday in SB de Messines. Every Saturday there is market in Loule.

Walking
If you right in front of Casa Mia Messines and cross the road, you walk straight into the hills and you're right in the picturesque and colorful interior of the Algarve. Anyone who has an adventurous spirit and good walking shoes can walk around there for hours without meeting anyone.

Alte
Casa Mia is less than 10 minutes drive from Alte, an authentic Portuguese mountain village on the slope of the Sierra de Caldeirão with white houses and steep, narrow streets. Alte is one of Europe's cultural heritage and its own theater and an events calendar with many village festivities, which the locals of Alte participate in large numbers. Alte is a great place to visit. On the way to the church - with the sixteenth-century tiles - you can find the pastry shop: AguaMel.
Here you find traditonal pastries and sweets from the local area. Their patio offers a nice view of the village.

Alte is also famous for its spring water. At the Fonte Pequena the locals fill their bottles with water. There are many opportunities in alte Algarve for swimming in the pure nature. The Fonte, a lovely canal with water from the springs, is situated in the village. Children can safely swim and picnic at surrounding rustic terraces. And then there's the waterfall of Alte behind the cimetery.
Take the country side roadvia Santa Margarida back to Casa Mia, a beautiful trip back to the lovely cottage Casa Mia Algarve.

Querença
Querença is another beautiful old village close to the cottage Casa Mia. Querença, located on top of a hill, with a few nice restaurants around the church. The charm of Querença is that there is nothing to be done and that you feel a century back in time.

Silves
The cottage Algarve is 20 minutes drive away from historic Silves, a pleasant provincial town where the Portuguese living an easy life, and where you always see a stork. At the time of the Moors, Silves was the capital of the Algarve. The castle of Silves is a relic from that period of Islamic domination. If you're in the neighborhood, walk just inside at Cafe Rosa (centre), not only for coffee but also for the beautiful Portuguese tiles. Fancy a drink or some nice Meditareanean food, visit the shady terrace of Cafe d'Inglés beside the cathedral.