Cala Branca

A whitewashed villa on the cliffs above a private cove in the western Algarve, with a pool that was cut to line up with the horizon and a path that reaches the beach in four minutes.

Inside, the house is simple: thick white walls, arched openings, cool stone floors and big windows. Four bedrooms each open to a terrace and each have their own bath.

The garden is planted with almond, fig and rosemary and runs to a low wall at the cliff edge. It is the sort of place where nothing needs doing.