Our villa is situated on the edge of FIGUEIRA, a small ancient village of narrow cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses. There are 3 shops where basic groceries can be bought and 2 restaurants where you can eat well and inexpensively within 5 minutes walk. SALEMA, 2 miles away by road is a fishing village with a beach, excellent restaurants and a supermarket. Nearby the village of BUDENS has another good supermarket.
VILA DO BISPO , 5 miles to the west is a small town (our local administrative centre) with some shops and restaurants . As yet this area is not 'touristy' and most of these restaurants are used mainly by local Portuguese and therefore good value.CAPE St. VINCENT, ´the end of Europe´, is 10 miles to the west and is where Henry the Navigator trained his navy before they set out on their great voyages of exploration.
The land rises steeply to the north around historic MONCHIQUE famed since Roman times for its therapeutic spa waters. The hills are thickly wooded with pine, mimosa and eucalyptus. The cultivated valleys produce figs, almonds, fruit and vegetables.