Villa Summary

The attractive Vivenda Barbara is set across two floors with a grand central staircase joining the two floors. Whilst the upper bedrooms enjoy countryside views from their balconies, the living space downstairs opens onto the large sun terrace and garden.

Ground Floor

First Floor

External Features

Facilities

Optional Extras

Check In/Out

Villa Walkthrough

The attractive Vivenda Barbara is set across two floors with a grand central staircase joining the two floors. Whilst the upper bedrooms enjoy countryside views from their balconies, the living space downstairs opens onto the large sun terrace and garden.

Approach

Vivenda Barbara is a very attractive villa with white-washed walls trimmed in pastel blue, topped with red-tiled roofs and featuring smooth curves, and towering chimneys. The villa is surrounded by a mix of fencing, low white walls and beautiful flowering shrubs and hedges; providing privacy.
The villa is set in the peaceful back lanes of the busy Galè resort, and surrounded by small open fields. Gates open off the lane into a cobbled parking area outside the front entrance. Here under the dappled shade of overhanging trees there is also a pretty single

Ground Floor

The front door opens into a large entrance hall with smooth tiled floors and a grand sweeping staircase leading up to the first floor. Wooden doorways line the curved walls, opening into the ground floor bedrooms and living space.
The open-plan living space has a central formal dining room with an oval table, eight chairs and several side dressers. A large archway opens through to the cosy sitting room where a feature fireplace sits in the centre of this circular room. There are small arched windows, soft sofas, and coffee tables. The sitting room is equipped with satellite TV and a stereo, and is a cool retreat form the heat of the midday sun. Doors open out on to the sun-drenched pool terrace.
Another doorway leads into the traditional kitchen, with country-style blue and white tiles on the walls, a range of darkwood units and a granite worktop. In the centre is a rectangular wooden breakfast table and six chairs. This older-style kitchen is well-equipped with modern appliances including a dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster, oven/hob and fridge/freezer. Another arched doorway leads into the kitchen from the entrance hall. A separate utility room holds a washing machine and laundry equipment. There is also a small, separate cloakroom.
On the ground floor are two of the five bedrooms: both simply and elegantly furnished with double beds, bedside cabinets, small reading lamps and storage. The first also has the benefit of an en-suite bathroom, whilst the other has an ornate metal bed frame.

First Floor

The impressive, sweeping staircase spirals up to the first floor and the remaining bedrooms. The light and airy landing has a feature circular window set into the ‘tower’. The upper floor bedrooms enjoy lovely views over the neighbouring fields and orchards, where fruit trees grow in neat rows.
The first is a large room furnished with twin beds, bedside cabinets and small reading lamps and plenty of storage. A doorway leads through to the tiled en-suite bathroom. Glass-panelled double doors open on to a small balcony with views over the surrounding fields, orchards and white-washed houses. A lovely spot to savour a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
The second room is similarly furnished with twin beds. And the third is fitted with a double bed and has doors opening on to a small balcony with nice views. Great for relaxing with a glass of wine at sunset. There is a separate family bathroom with full bathtub, over-bath shower, toilet and washbasin.

Outside

A circle of blue-painted pillars support the small roof that stretches out around the exterior wall of the round sitting room. This shaded part of the large sun terrace has table and chairs for long, lazy meals outside. The built-in barbecue area has preparation space and a sink, perfect for any budding chefs to cook up a storm on the sizzling grill.
The large rectangular pool is in the centre of the terrace, with integral steps at one end to lead you greatly into the water. There are sunloungers and parasols around the poolside for lazing in the warm sunshine. Beside the pool terrace is a small area of green lawn and a large border of tall tress and shrubs.

Additional Information

• Catherine Varney
  Feedback Date: 15/11/2006
  Date of travel: 21/10/2006
  
  Experience Accommodation Quality: Good

  Value For Money: Excellent

  Comments:
  As above

  Experience Recommendations:
  O girassol restaurant within easy walking distance with excellent quality food and friendly service. drive to guia for a wider selection particularly ideal, atlantico and palladium. gale beach magnificent in all weathers - good sardines at beach bar. salgados beach a nice walk along from gale and good restaurant there too. algarve shopping mall always a necessity especially for zara bargains.

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Location

Vivenda Barbara is located in the peaceful back lanes of Galè, to the west of Albufiera. Gale has become very developed over the years, probably thanks to its lovely and popular sandy beach. The beach-front area of Gale is full with apartments, restaurants, and shops but Vivenda Barbara enjoys the best of both worlds. It is close to the amenities and stunning golden beaches, but also enjoys peace, privacy and countryside views.

The golden sands of Galès stretch for miles and are lapped by the blue waters of the Atlantic. As well as beachside cafes and bars, you will find water sports on offer in high season and the area enjoys nice clifftop walks.
The nearby town of Guia, about 5km away, is home to the popular ZooMarine ocean theme park; set amongst lakes and gardens this park offers a variety of live shows, rides and exhibitions to entertain the whole family. It features a huge range of marine animals from sea lions to turtles and exotic birds. (For a large fee – around £80 – you can also experience the magic of swimming with dolphins but make sure you pre-book). In Guia, you will also find the new ‘Algarve Shopping’ mall, with a large selection of shops, fast food outlets, cinema screens (English language films) and a ten-pin bowling alley.
Albufeira, 3km away is a sprawling town with plenty to see and something to suit everyone. During the day you can enjoy the sandy stretches of beach or browse the markets where local handicrafts and fresh goods are sold. In the evening, a wide variety of bars, restaurants and clubs fill the streets with people and life; locals sit on the terraces of traditional restaurants, the bars fill up with thirsty punters, and all kinds of music drift across the air. You can also stroll around the newly completed marina in the west and admire the dazzling array of white yachts. Alternatively, you could wander around the Old Town and explore the maze of cobbled streets, past white-washed fishermen’s houses.

Many of the beaches have water sports on offer throughout the summer, and there are plenty of golf courses, tennis courts and horse riding facilities found all around the Algarve. The nearest golf course is Salgados, set back from the Gale beach with 18-holes and lots of water hazards.

One of Albufeira’s nicest beaches; Praia dos Pescadores or ‘fishermens’ beach is so named because of the little colourful fishing boats that line the shore here. This sandy beach has only a few steps down to the sand and plenty of parking; it also has a small pier and a beachside café. Leading down to the beach is ‘The Street of bars’ where there is plenty of nightlife to be had.

Nearby attractions for those with children include.
• Slide and Splash – a huge water park with pools, Jacuzzis, slides and rapids that can keep the whole family amused for a day. There are plenty of grassy areas for relaxing and picnicking and because the grounds are so large, it doesn’t get too crowded. Located north of the town on the N125, approx 25km away.

Nearest Beach
Gale Beach 1.6 km

Nearest Golf Course
Salgados Golf 2.0 km

Nearest Restaurant/Bar/Cafe
Restaurants 0.7 km

Nearest Shop
Supermarket 1.0 km

Distance from Airport
45.0 km from Faro