There is a place I’ve been wanting to share with you since July 2023. A place that felt like home (actually it is only 10 minutes away from my parent’s house), a place that embraces the charm of an old small Quinta from Algarve, a place that is our tranquility and yet close to Faro and the airport, a place with owners that become friends immediately - welcome to Âmago!

I was born in Faro, Algarve but my roots were set inland in Bordeira, Santa Barbara de Nexe. However, every time I'm visiting my family I like to go for a walk through Faro, have a café and inhale the unique pastry smell of the Gardy Croissanteria. Faro is slowly coming to life. Until now, it felt like a sleeping beauty. For a city, Faro is actually very calm and you won't feel any hectic. This time, I decided to stay in the city and my decision lead me to The Modernist.

250 m above sea level, surrounded by a huge garden with ancient olive, almond and carob trees, the Monte das Marés guesthouse looks out over dense green hills to the Atlantic. A sun-warmed place for slowing down and where less is more. Structurally as well, because the so-called Monte – a traditional Portuguese farmhouse – dates back to 1904. Inspired by the simplicity of regional architecture and to preserve its original charm, it was renovated to be as minimalist and restrained as possible, using the natural materials of the region, from the whitewashed thick stone walls that stand out clearly against the surrounding green landscape, to the traditional terracotta tiles and local stone used for the kitchen worktops and bathrooms.

In 2019, I went through many changes in my personal and professional life. So, by the end of the year, I felt the strong urge to recharge my batteries but at the same time go somewhere that feels like home, somewhere silent and calm. Mike and I needed some 'us-time' too and we also wanted to enjoy a bit of time with our friends. We chose to stay 3 nights at Serro da Volta, a vacation home by Casas da Serra Tavira. In July 2019 I already had the pleasure to write about their other vacation home Monte do Cansado.

It's not easy to try new restaurants in Algarve when the best cooks are in your family. This time, it was important for us to spend some time with my family and therefore, we did not have that much spare time to try out new restaurants. However, we managed to book a table at Morgado do Quintão. The estate itself is on our wishlist for a stay one day.

We are used to say "the first impression counts". And the one I had at Monte do Cansado was one of the bests from my stay in Portugal this June. Lia and Helge warmly welcomed us like family with a spontaneous late lunch "à portuguesa": bread, choriço, cheese, tomato salad and red wine. I talked with them about their projects at Casas da Serra Tavira and about their life path. I had a very inspiring start into my stay at one of their houses.

I'm so happy to see how Algarve is developing. Once it used to be known for golf resorts and massive tourism in summer. While it still is a great destination for golf and yes it gets really crowded in July, August, it also is a wonderful place in winter. The calmness, empty beaches and green landscapes are simply magical. Slowly some of the smaller rental farmhouses, bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels are trying to stay opened all year round. Some years ago, you had two choices: stay in a big hotel nearby the west coast or rent a more or less old house with no luxury at all in the rural region. Nowadays, you have beautiful farmhouses or rental homes with stylish and yet traditional interiors. You can even in summer enjoy a private and calm vacation far away from tourists.

Casa Modesta is a family house and a real architectural gem nearby Olhão and Ria Formosa. The rooms are very tasteful decorated with Portuguese slow design. Some pieces where designed and produced exclusively for Casa Modesta. The owners intend to preserve Portuguese culture by doing workshops (food). And soon they want to open a creative residency.

The Algarve region is beautifully set by a diverse Atlantic Coast. While you can catch the waves in the West, the East offers you quieter and warmer waters. Experiencing the Algarve means to get connected with nature. This region is far more than just beaches. It has a stunning fauna and flora to offer, and tinny fisher towns have life stories to tell.

Casa Brava is not only a bio vegan soap brand. It's a way of slow living. Julie and Marco are also very kind hosts of a B&B in mid-west Algarve and are passionate about the eco-friendly way of living. The B&B is situated in a calm and peaceful region of Loulé and far away from tourists. And the beaches are only 15 min away by car.