Casal Villas

  • Location: Beach / Coast
    Praia da Gelfa: 2 km
    Vila Praia de Âncora: 4 km
    Restaurants and shops: 4 km
    Beautiful Viana do Castelo: 26km (25 mins by car)
  • Porto Airport (OPO): 85km (1h by car)
    Airport transfer available on request
    Car recommended
    Free parking
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An introduction to Casal Villas

What is the story behind Casal Villas, what was your inspiration to create it?

I went to Porto when I was 18 and fell in love with the city and always wanted to return. In the summer of 2019, Stefan and I went on a road trip through Portugal and the country really touched him as well. He works as an architect and I am running a design agency, so we had this idea to find houses that weren’t “standard” but “special”. 

First, we bought a house in Porto, which we also rent. But we wanted to have something in the countryside and ended up in the north of Portugal because it’s really green and fewer tourists. There are secret places to discover and amazingly beautiful natural spots. You can go to the beaches to swim and surf, you can go hiking — this is what we really like about it.

We found this property in 2021. It comprises twin houses, which can be rented together or separately. It was previously owned by two families, with each having half of it.

How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Casal Villas?

The design was by a Portuguese architect, with this concept of having two “boxes” in a shell that move like a matchbox. What is really striking is that it’s a very simple and minimalistic form that’s placed in a way that you look down on the valley. It’s really beautiful because you enter via a long staircase to reach an archway that frames the countryside. We did a few renovations, such as painting, but our main focus was the interior design, which combines classic design furniture with locally produced Portuguese pieces. 

When Stefan initially convinced me to see the house, I wasn’t sure, as I’m really a city person and it was in the countryside. Even though it’s not far from cafes, restaurants and beaches, I still wasn’t sure. But as soon as you drive along the road leading to the house and the landscape opens itself to you, it’s a kind of peaceful majesty. Inside, you have this breathtaking view and feel as though you are floating on this green hill above the valley, with this amazing view that appears like a picture.

It’s very quiet and all you can hear are the sounds of the animals. There are some sheep on the neighbouring hill wandering around — children always like sitting there watching them. When you arrive, the peace just captures you and I have never been so happy.

To you personally, what makes Casal Villas so special?

We are very attached to the house. It is a place that we use ourselves and that has our personal touches and perspective. You have freedom and it’s peaceful, light and airy. You feel like you are floating and whenever you look into the valley, you have this image of a dream Portuguese landscape framed by modern architecture.

Casal Villas
Casal Villas
Casal Villas
Casal Villas
Casal Villas
Casal Villas
Casal Villas - Galo
Casal Villas - Galo
Casal Villas - Galo
Casal Villas - Ovelha
Casal Villas
Kitchen
Bedroom
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Bathroom
Bathroom
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Casal Villas
Aerial view
Aerial view
Aerial view
Casal Villas
Terraces
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Yoga studio
Yoga studio
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Sauna
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Whirlpool
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Aerial view
Surrounding villages
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Caminho de Santiago
Praia de Âncora
Praia de Âncora
Praia de Âncora

Casal Villas rooms & rates

Casal Villas comprises two symmetrical units. You enter into a long corridor, with the kitchen (which is fully equipped with everything you need) on the right, together with a small toilet. The living and dining space is quite big, with windows on both sides, plus a fireplace, a sofa and a TV. The two smaller bedrooms share a bathroom while the master bedroom has its own ensuite. Each house is suitable for six people, so two families can stay together but also have their private space.

Surrounding the property is a huge garden. The entire property is covered in shutters that can be opened and the windows are fully glazed. Both units are also air-conditioned and heated. Below the house are two rooms — one with a full laundry (shared between the two units) and storage space for the barbecues and outdoor furniture.

  • Galo for 6 people / 110 m²
    490 / night

    Unavailable

    • 3 Double bedrooms
    • 2 Shower rooms
    • 1 Living room
    • 1 Dining room
    • 1 Kitchen
    • 1 Baby cot (on req.)
    • Terrace
    • Fireplace
    • Air conditioning

    Both units are nearly identical. They each feature:
    - Fully equipped kitchen incl. dishwasher
    - Dining area
    - Open living room with lounge area, fireplace, TV and large doors opening up towards the garden.
    - 3 double bedrooms (160 x 200cm) and 2 bathrooms with walk-in shower.
    - Separate toilet.
    - A shared room with a washing machine and dryer downstairs.

  • Ovelha for 6 people / 110 m²
    490 / night

    Unavailable

    • 3 Double bedrooms
    • 2 Shower rooms
    • 1 Living room
    • 1 Dining room
    • 1 Kitchen
    • 1 Baby cot (on req.)
    • Terrace
    • Fireplace
    • Air conditioning

    Both units are nearly identical. They each feature:
    - Fully equipped kitchen incl. dishwasher
    - Dining area
    - Open living room with lounge area, fireplace, TV and large doors opening up towards the garden.
    - 3 double bedrooms (160 x 200cm) and 2 bathrooms with walk-in shower.
    - Separate toilet.
    - A shared room with a washing machine and dryer downstairs.

  • Exclusive rental for 12 people / 220 m²
    850 / night

    Unavailable

    • 6 Double bedrooms
    • 4 Shower rooms
    • 2 Living rooms
    • 2 Dining rooms
    • 2 Kitchens
    • 2 Baby cots (on req.)
    • Terrace
    • Fireplace
    • Air conditioning

    Both units can be rented together as well.

Included in the rates
Rates include a welcome basket on arrival, kitchen basics, linen and towels, Wifi, air conditioning, mid-stay change of linen and mid-stay cleaning for stays of 1 week or more.
Optional extras
A private chef is available on request.
Children & Extra beds
Children are welcome. A baby cot and high chair are available free of charge.
Minimum stay
2 - 7 nights (check calendar for dates)
Check in time
after 17:00
Check out time
before 10:00

Facilities & services

  • Children welcome
  • WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Terrace
  • Washing machine
  • Sauna
  • TV
  • Fireplace
  • Garden
  • Whirlpool/Plunge pool
  • Music system
  • BBQ area
  • Iron & Board
  • Hair dryer

Alexandra is our manager and she does so much more than most agencies — all of our guests love her. She is a local and knows the area incredibly well, with a mission to make our guests feel like they are at home. It’s very important that each guest is treated like the most important person in the world, so she is always available and taking care of them. If something is missing or not working correctly, we try to rectify this as soon as possible. 

In the bathrooms, we provide toiletries such as shampoo and body wash, as well as all bedding linen and towels. Basic food supplies like olive oil, coffee/tea, sugar and seasonings are available and we also put together a seasonally-themed welcome package for our guests. Cleaning is provided at the end of the stay and despite being in the countryside, we have fast Wi-Fi.

Children of all ages are welcome and we can provide baby beds and high chairs on request. We are also very fond of pets and welcome animals, with a special treat for dogs who stay.

On request, we can pick up guests from the airport, organise rental bicycles or private chefs to prepare meals at the house. Breakfast can also be arranged. We have partnerships with local practitioners who offer yoga classes or therapeutical massages and can organise sailing adventures along the coast. We have a yoga/wellness room for this. Sometimes, guests request something and we do our best to arrange it.

We also have a a sauna and an outdoor jacuzzi.

Things to do in Northern Portugal & Âncora

  • Art / Culture
  • Shopping / Markets
  • Wine tastings
  • Yoga classes
  • Hiking
  • Cycling
  • Horseback riding
  • Sailing / Kayaking
  • Boat trips

Nearby are lots of beaches with so much to do. Following the coast, you can walk the Portuguese Camino all the way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Alternatively, you can go hiking in the mountains and swim in the natural pools. 

The surrounding area is a wine-growing region, with a lot of wine culture and great cuisine. Every Saturday/Sunday morning, you can go to the harbour and buy fresh fish direct from the boat or you can call them and they will bring it to the house. I’d also recommend visiting the Santuario de Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo. It’s up on a hill with amazing views of the countryside. 

The location of Casal Villas

The villa is just five minutes’ drive from Vila Praia de Âncora in northern Portugal. In the village, you’ll find supermarkets, restaurants and cafes. Along the coastline are lots of beaches, some of which are suitable for surfing and kite surfing, others for families with small children.

In the immediate surroundings, there are a few traditional houses owned by Portuguese people. Most of the people still work in farming, so it is a really rural and tranquil community and you have lots of privacy. 

Viana do Castelo is the biggest city in the region, with historical architecture and museums to explore. If you go north, you’ll reach Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira and Valença on the border with Spain, which is packed with monuments to see. Inland is a mountainous area with wild horses, waterfalls and natural swimming pools — the water is very cold but beautiful. 

You can walk from the house to Vila Praia de Âncora in an hour but it’s best to rent a car or scooter for getting around and doing grocery shopping. In Vila Praia de Âncora, there are lots of restaurants, many of which are famed for their seafood, with the closest being around 20 minutes’ walk from Casal Villas. 

When is the best time to visit Northern Portugal?

The main tourist season is between April and September/October but each season has its charm. If you don’t like being around lots of people, I would skip August when the villages can get quite packed. We like spring when the plants are starting to bloom and you can go on adventures in the mountains. 

It’s also nice in winter because the house is heated and there are cosy fireplaces — you can just enjoy the valley views. We like putting on warm clothes and going down to the ocean. People are living here throughout the year, so the restaurants are open all year round — there are no closing times like in other areas.