Tradicampo Casa da Fonte

Algarvia, on the north coast of São Miguel, is where Casa da Fonte stands among fields and hydrangea hedges, its basalt walls dark against the green. It is the oldest of Tradicampo's houses, built in the 18th century and restored without losing its stone walls or high ceilings. The porch faces both sea and mountain, and on a clear day you can watch the Atlantic from breakfast. A wood-fired oven sits ready for bread or a slow roast, and the living room holds a wood-burning stove for colder nights. The garden gives shade in summer. Inside, the house is compact: one bedroom, a full bathroom, a fitted kitchen and a living room with satellite television. Bicycles are left out for guests who want to ride the coastal lanes toward the cliffs and villages nearby, free of charge. A barbecue on the porch and a croquet lawn round out the outdoor side of things. The house is also fitted for guests with reduced mobility. Pets are not allowed, and the property, house and equipment are kept for the exclusive use of whoever is staying, so no events or parties. It is a quiet corner of Nordeste, close enough to the sea to hear it, far enough from anything else to notice the silence.