If life on one of Europe’s most glamorous waterfronts – in more ways than one – appeals to you, then a holiday villa with a pool at trendy Vilamoura ticks the right boxes.
This perennially popular manicured resort centres on Portugal’s finest marina, lined with shops, bars, restaurants and nightspots, (including an International Casino with glamorous shows) where celebrities are frequently spotted. Chill out on one of the attractive lounge decks and enjoy the lovely views to the marina with its many yachts. Or, if you are looking for some Zen moments, there are Spa & Wellness Centres and a superb three-mile-long sandy beach along which several excellent beach bars and restaurants will offer just the perfect spot for a sunset drink with tasty meal to follow.
History
Vilamoura was created on the grounds of Quinta do Morgado of Quarteira, a farm with 1600 hectares which was acquired by the banker and founder Cupertino de Miranda in the 1960’s. The centre of the development was to be the Marina, around which the resort was to be built. Together with Lusotur, Vilamoura’s management company of the time, building of real estate started in 1966 and the excavations for the Marina began. The first sailboat to enter Vilamoura Marina was the ‘Giralda’ of his Royal Highness the Count of Barcelona, in 1974. Five years later, in 1979, several hotels, apartments and developments had been built and the Marina was already getting busy with its front structures finished, including apartments, restaurants, bars, and shops.
Vilamoura Marina has been awarded the title of “Best Portuguese Marina 2019” by Publituris, at the Portugal Trade Awards for 9 consecutive years, ever since this award was first created. Vilamoura Marina was the pioneer in Portugal and remains the largest marina in Portugal possessing 845 berths, a fully working boatyard, professional sail training centre, a quayside practically surrounding the marina with a diversity of holiday accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shops. Vilamoura Marina has kept growing and developing, in keeping with the changing needs of the market.
Attractions
A wide variety of cruises, big game fishing, dolphin watching trips, cave tours, and water sports are all available from the Marina. Wherever your Vilamoura villa rental is located you will be within a very short driving range of one of the area’s five superb championship golf courses, a tennis and padel club, a riding school, a shooting club, sailing club, and other sports facilities.
The resort presents many routes for walking, running, and cycling and some of those routes are lined with outdoor exercise equipment. Bikes can be hired at various spots.
For culture lovers, there is ‘Cerro da Vila’ – ruins of a Roman Village of Century I BC, right next to the Marina.
Neighbouring Quarteira is famous for its daily bustling fish market and the colourful Wednesday Gipsy Market. Just on the outskirts of Quarteira-Vilamoura the famous waterslide park ‘Aquashow’ is situated, certainly worth a day of good fun!
Affinity Villas offers many more destinations for Algarve villa holidays including Tavira, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Loule, Silves, Porches, Carvoeiro, Ferragudo Alvor and Luz.