Casa Surya is located on a peaceful residencia made up of several individual white-washed villas. Surrounded by large, pretty gardens, Casa Surya is a spacious, homely villa with a well-equipped kitchen. From the lanes that wind around the residencia, double metal gates lead up the small driveway to Casa Surya’s front door.

The front door opens into a light, airy entrance, where a door to the right leads into an open-plan living and dining room. This room is spacious and natural light floods in through the French windows which lead out onto the pool terrace, and the gardens. The living area has a stone fireplace with brick surround and white tapered chimney, typical of many European villas and smooth tiled floors. A soft leather sofa and arm chair cluster around the fireplace offering a comfortable place to sit out of the midday sunshine. In the corner are the TV with satellite channels and the DVD/CD stereo.

The dining area has enough seating for six. The table is ideally placed to give a pleasant view of the lush gardens and the pool, with its covered terrace.

The spacious kitchen is fitted with a range of traditional wooden units at base and eye level and has a country-style feel. This older-style kitchen nevertheless has several modern appliances including a dishwasher, microwave, fridge/freezer and oven/hob. A back door opens onto the gardens. Adjacent to the kitchen is a utility room with washing machine and laundry equipment.

A door leads from the entrance hall to a fully tiled shower room with a shower cubicle, toilet and washbasin.

Upstairs, the landing leads to three bedrooms, all of which are comfortably furnished and have fitted wardrobes. To the right is the spacious master bedroom, furnished with a double bed, matching bedside cabinets and a large fitted wardrobe with hanging rails and shelving. As well its own en-suite bathroom, this master bedroom has patio doors sliding open onto a private veranda. From here, the eye stretches across the surrounding area, dotted with white-washed villas to the blue horizon above the Atlantic Sea. The perfect spot to savour your morning cup of coffee and watch the world go by.

The cosy second bedroom has twin beds, bedside table and large wardrobe. It shares a separate family bathroom with the third bedroom. This spacious bedroom is fitted with three single beds, a large wardrobe and a chest of drawers. Patio doors open onto a private veranda with the same distant sea views. At night, leave these doors ajar inviting in the cooling breeze and sound of cicada song.

Casa Surya has large gardens bordered by mature leafy trees and shrubs, and decorated with pretty little flower beds. Patio doors open from the living room onto a large patio, enclosed within low white walls. One half of this is shaded by a large porch-like structure attached to the villa. There is a garden table and chairs here in the shade where you can enjoy a relaxed, lazy lunch. Two shallow steps take you to the large sun terrace and the private pool set in the centre. There are integral steps in one end of this kidney-shaped pool, leading you gradually into the cool water.

A large wall with curved peaks encloses the sun terrace around one side. Within this wall, an area of blue-tiling contains a poolside shower - handy for rinsing off after a sand-castling session at the beach. Around the poolside there are plenty of sunloungers for lazing in the warm sunshine. Where the pool terrace ends, a large green lawn begins. Curving around the side for the villa, this grassy area is great for kids to run around on. It is bordered by small fruit trees and colourful shrubs and is a nice place to read a good book in the shade, away form the noisy splashings of the pool.

For larger parties, Casa Surya is next-door to Casa Tilias.

Casa Surya is located in a peaceful residencia just 5km from the lively resort of Albufeira. The villa is just 2km from Gal� Beach, a beautiful expanse of sand that stretches for miles between picturesque cliffs. A mini-market and restaurant are both within convenient walking distance. Just a short drive brings you to Albufeira, where you`ll find an accessible sandy beach and wide selection of restaurants and bars.

Casa Surya is the perfect base for exploring the beautiful Albuferia coastline, with its fourteen sandy beaches and coves. The nearest is Gal� beach, which has a wide variety of tourist facilities and snack bars. In the direction of Albufeira are two smaller beaches that are quieter and less visited. Castelo Beach and S�o Rafael are picturesque coves protected by stunning rock formations of great natural beauty.

Once a traditional fishing village, Albufeira is now 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 stree