Affordable property in amazing surroundings: where life is peaceful, calm and at one with nature. What more could you ask for than to live in a typical Algarvean, inland town with a dreamy, wonderfully slow pace of life.
Take this opportunity to have a glimpse of such a scenario with properties in São Bartolomeo de Messines.
São Bartolomeu de Messines is in the municipality of Silves, which is a very attractive inland county. Known commonly as Messines, it’s a typical Algarvean old agricultural town with a beautiful church, cobbled streets and fascinating shops; this is where every day life is taken at an easy pace. However, it’s a very short drive to the town of Silves - another fascinating place to explore, and also a short drive to the hustle and bustle of Albufeira, the capital of tourism.
Meandering through this small town on the Meravista property map I found some really interesting Messines property for sale, from town houses to apartments to stunning villas in the nearby countryside and villages.
Low cost living in the centre of town
If you can call the centre of sleepy Messines urban, there are some good options for property in the town. I came across this first floor, three bedroom, two bathroom apartment. Its right in the centre of the town yet only costs €115,000. That’s pretty good considering it has a private garage and looks really spacious.
Bypassing several more apartments, I found this huge, single-storey townhouse (215m2) right in the centre. It obviously needs some renovation but at €99,000 I think it’s a bargain.
With five bedrooms and two bathrooms I reckon you could make something really special with a property of this size.
It’s got a nice sized patio and garden too, and with a garage on site there’s a lot that could be done to transform this little gem.
Standing out on the map was this property. Described as a '4-bed luxury contemporary villa for sale in São Bartolomeu de Messines’, this property is on a 700m2 plot which includes a swimming pool, orchard, terraces and even a barn converted to a studio apartment!
The house is completely refurbished with air conditioning and under-floor heating, as well as the obligatory log fireplace. The kitchen is fully fitted too! The villa is south facing and brags of views all the way to the coast. It sounds idyllic.
Oh, and the price? Not bad at €375,000.
Almost in town
Not far from Messines town centre I saw this property that has already been fully restored. The kitchen and living areas appear spacious and a great place for family gatherings.
All three bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and are beautifully renovated, plus there’s an office as well. The atrium-style dining area looks lovely and there’s an above-ground pool in the garden.
All this and a garage too, at only €139,900 for the lot!
Then I found another apartment, this time on the outskirts of the town in the district called Aldeia Ruiva. It is priced at only €60,000 yet it has three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a lounge and kitchen plus stunning views over the town and countryside.
The extra benefit is that it’s fully furnished and equipped – yes for this price all the furniture and appliances stay!
There’s no garage but then if you’re on the edge of town I don’t suppose you need one.
Venturing into the countryside, I spotted this country villa, nestled on a hill just outside the village of Amorosa, which is just a short drive from São Bartolomeu de Messines. I have to say I was astounded at the low price of €225,000 when I read what this lovely villa has to offer.
The lounge is large with a feature fireplace and vaulted ceilings with a lovely archway leading to the open-plan kitchen and dining room. There’s a beautiful south-west facing conservatory giving not only fabulous views of the surrounding countryside but also of the wonderful sunsets.
The villa has one en-suite bedroom on the ground floor and two upstairs, including the master suite. This property sits on a plot of over 6000m2, of which about 800m2 is landscaped. Surely this has to be the bargain of the month?
A villa, with another villa, plus two plots!
Well, the next property I came across was originally €525,000 but has been reduced to €425,000 and just happened to be two for the price of one, and more!
It’s a four bedroom villa, plus a two bedroom guest house, and on top of those there are two ruins on this plot of over 17,000m2. The possibilities are boundless.
The main house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a living / dining room and kitchen. There’s a large covered terrace with access to its own private swimming pool, gardens and garage.
The spacious two-bedroom guest house has a lovely living /dining room, a bathroom and kitchen. It’s totally private with its own entrance, garden, private swimming pool and garage.
In addition to those two perfect homes, there are also two plots of 675sqm and 825sqm which have permission to build two more villas each of 300sqm (subject to project approval). With the potential to sell or rent these, there are endless possibilities of what you could do with this property. And don’t forget – all for only €425k !
I always knew that property in the Algarve was affordable and that rural living is cheaper than town living but I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised at the prices I saw today. It’s not just about the cost of buying a property is it? It’s also about the lifestyle you want and the costs involved in that lifestyle.
It seems to me that you can have your cake and eat it if you choose to live somewhere like São Bartolomeu de Messines. You’re not only not far from the coast with the glorious beaches and all the fun of the fair, but you’re also surrounded by Mother Nature and all her bounty. If you prefer the quieter lifestyle but easy access to shops and activities this has to be the perfect location.
You’ll find many more properties for sale in Messines on Meravista.com.
The properties featured in this article were listed for sale on Meravista at the time of publication, but may have since been sold or removed from the website.
