Casa de Poema

Casa De Poema




A stylish conversion of a classic detached two-bedroom Portuguese country house, with self-contained one-bedroom annex and pool, quietly located on the edge of a village in Portugal’s ‘Lake District’, good income potential.

Something of the spirit of famous poet Zilda de Veranda, whose home this once was, lives on in the charming spaces and elegant lines of this haven of calm. The owner has employed only the best materials, such as the African hardwood floors, with subtle taste, a sure eye for design and respect for the history of the house.

Location

Casa de Poema stands alone, not overlooked, at the edge of the village of Balsa, just five minutes’ drive from the small town of Castanheira de Pêra and its celebrated ‘Inland Sea’ (Praia das Rocas). Fifteen minutes to the south lie the attractive little town of Figueiró dos Vinhos and more of this region’s lakes (deliciously warm to swim in summer, and safe).

Sometimes called Portugal’s Tuscany, this is an area of lush green hills, crystalline rivers and lakes, sleepy villages and empty roads. It is arguably western Europe’s last ‘undiscovered’ treasure, though there are already many fortunate northern Europeans living here already – enough for company, if wanted, but never an expat ghetto – and this is an excellent time to invest.

Coimbra, Portugal’s third city, famed for its medieval university and known as ‘City of Doctors’, is around an hour by car, as are the vast golden beaches of the Silver Coast (Costa de Prata). Lisbon and Porto are a little over two hours.

The village of Balsa has a café and small shop within an easy walk of the house.

Accommodation

On the ground floor is good-size storage room, and next to it a very large traditional farmhouse-style kitchen/diner, with lots of worktop and cupboard space. A wrought iron spiral staircase leads up to the very stylish open-plan sitting room, divided by a wooden ‘breakfast bar’, useful for all kinds of things. A wood-burning stove generates amazing heat during the short winter.

Off this sitting room are two double bedrooms, not grand but cosy. There’s also a good-size shower room, but special mention must go to the ‘reading room’, a very Portuguese idea, where the family would sit by the fire, to cook, eat and chat. There’s a long wooden bench there now, but you could put a single bed or full-length bath in its place. The sitting room also has an exterior door, with steps down to the ground floor.

Up a short flight of steps and you come to the annex, which has a distinctly Mediterranean feel to it. Inside is a double bedroom with glass door to the outside, shower room, plus a newly fitted kitchen with dining area. Next to that is another roomy storage space. On top of all this is an amazing roof terrace, where you can sit and take in the wonderful views across the village to the Serra da Lousã beyond.

The modestly-sized but abundant walled garden is home to a swimming pool, very private but catching a lot of sun. Below this level is a large patio (by the kitchen) – a nice sheltered spot for al fresco dining – and a shaded car port with yet more storage space. There’s also plenty of off-road parking just outside the gate.

Income potential

Casa de Poema would make a fine house for permanent habitation, but is also compact and manageable enough to be a holiday home – with good potential to let when not occupied by the owner.

The annex is ideal for personal guests, but could of course also be let independently.

Price € 125,000.00

http://www.propertyforsaleincentralportugal.co.uk