Villa Volta
ALENTEJO / HOME / TRIED & TESTED
Villa Volta is a stunning & much-celebrated design-led feat, somewhere between the wild beaches of Comporta & the vast cork forests of the Serra da Grandôla. As you peel away from the local town, winding streets become whitewashed dots in the landscape & soon, down a dusty farmers track, a contemporary take on rural living emerges. This is a private home for rent where the character of the Alentejo & Portugal’s architectural heritage is embodied with a new vision.
Dotted around a walled courtyard that nods to the ancient North African methodology of fortification, six ensuite bedrooms embrace modern minimalism with a distinctly contemporary feel. At the centre of the house, a cleverly partitioned open-plan living space is filled with the owner’s private art collection & spills out onto a terrace with far-reaching views of cork forest & rugged countryside. A concrete ‘tank’ acts as an infinity pool & mirror to the ever-changing elemental energy of the sky above. Created to be the ultimate escape for groups of sociable friends or reuniting families, the house is well set up for entertaining & dinner around the 100-year-old oak - that acts as the centre of gravity to the house - provides endless moments to make immeasurable memories. That is until you return.
Room Service
Location: Villa Volta is located in the Serra da Grandôla, in the Alentejo region. The beach is twenty-minute drive away.
Price: Rental of the full house starts from 750€ per night in low season. Minimum stays apply.
Sleeps: Twelve people in six double, ensuite bedrooms.
Highlights: The architectural wonder of Villa Volta means you’ll want to capture every corner on your camera, feeling inspired by the ingenuity of a place where old meets new.
Our favourite room: You’ll have the whole house to yourself, but dreams are made in the master suite which looks out onto its own private courtyard.
Services: Guided check-in, grocery shopping & turndown services are provided on request. In-house massages, restaurant bookings & activity recommendations too. Private chefs Two Pack Kitchen, who work only with local & seasonal ingredients are available on request to cook at the house for an additional cost.
Designed by Promotorio Arq. in collaboration with Silva Cravo Arq. Interiors are in collaboration with José Luis Barbosa.
Photography by Design Escapes.
The Neighbourhood: A short drive away is the town of Grandôla, a sleepy Alentejo town with a couple of very local restaurants for a true Portuguese experience. Around a thirty-minute drive through pine & cork forests will get you to Comporta village.
Things to know: The beauty of Villa Volta lies in its isolation, which means quite a bumpy country road to get there. If renting a car be sure to hire a Landrover or a 4x4 to traverse it easily & quickly (as well as to fit in with the local farmers).
Villa Volta is a member of the Design Escapes Club, tried & tested personally by us.
The Map
Villa Volta is located in the rolling countryside outside of the village of Grandôla, around an hour’s drive from Lisbon. Fly to Lisbon & rent a landrover to tackle the landscapes, taking a road trip while finding some freedom during your stay.
The Design Directory
Wander the golden triangle of Comporta, Melides & Grandôla with the Design Escapes curated destination guide, a Design Directory filled with homes & hotels, tips & tastes, sights & scenes with the thoughtful & modern traveller in mind…
