Holiday Villas in Prazeres

If you’re looking for a low-key villa holiday in Madeira, a haven of tranquillity awaits in the small village of Prazeres. Set in a rural southwest region of Madeira, this is one of the island’s most picturesque villages, surrounded by vivid-green mountains, dense valleys and epic nature trails. Within the village are a bakery and supermarket, plus several traditional restaurants specialising in delicious home-cooked Portuguese piri piri chicken and Espetada. For families there’s the Quinta Pedagógica dos Prazeres (Prazeres Educational Farm), home to pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens, llamas and donkeys. There is also a herb garden, a teahouse and a playground for children, along with the pretty Parish Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves next door.

Every year small village parties are held to raise money for the church and animal farm, each with a different theme such as the wheat festival, the cider festival and the festival of the rooster (where the most beautiful rooster in the parish is auctioned!) You can really embrace local life if you’re visiting during this time. For those who wish to explore further afield, the coastal town of Calheta can be found within a ten-minute drive, home to a golden sandy beach and pretty marina with further amenities.