Stay: Casa da Vigia
Who doesn’t need a Portuguese bolt hole? Nicknamed as ‘the Hamptons of Europe’, Comporta is one of the continent’s most beautiful regions. Home to horse riding on white sandy beaches, browsing aimlessly through unique boutiques, admiring the landscape-inspired architecture, and participating in the daily consumption of a famous Pastel de Nata or two. We made an off-season dash here to capture the last, precious days of summer.
Positioned in the Comporta region, an hour and a half South of Lisbon, is the beautiful Casa da Vigia. Found via Cool Stays, the secluded Casa offers the perfect retreat for two. As you approach the alluring Casa, found only after navigating sandy lanes and hand-painted signs, you’ll be surrounded by hectares of the owner’s pine and cork trees. The Casa is raised to offer a bird’s eye view of the landscape from its wrapped terrace and infinity pool. Trees stretch as far as the eye can see, akin to an ever-lasting shoreline on a clear day.
Timber shuttered concrete and glass reflect the surroundings perfectly, forcing you to connect with nature in every corner. We were lucky enough to meet the owner Isabel, and wonderful groundskeeper Rui, to learn about the importance of the Casa as an annual staycation for their family. This connection made our stay even more special, imagining the importance and value it holds for many.
The interior of the Casa is filled with bounds of golden hues and hints of the local landscape- from cork wallpaper to straw wall plates. There is a well-equipped kitchen for al fresco evenings in under the stars, a spacious bedroom and en-suite with a tub of all tubs. You even have access to the owner’s BBQ, a prime opportunity to cook up a storm as you enjoy the local catch of the day.
During our stay, we learned that cork trees are harvested for bark every nine years and it is a highly sustainable and biodegradable material. The process doesn’t harm the trees and the number of years between harvesting is marked on the bark to ensure they aren’t harvested too often. They also absorb large amounts of carbon and the material is never wasted- think how much cork is used for bottles!
Largely off-grid (mainly as we couldn’t get the Wi-Fi to work), this is an ideal spot for those seeking relaxation but maybe not for those who will need to be working whilst away. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to kick back, flick through well-thumbed pages of your book and a take an occasional dip in the pool, then your search ends here.
