The fragrance of the countryside is sweet and serene, as if a slower pace could finally restore the quality of life that we so desperately crave for during our busy daily lives. Perhaps that utopia of well-deserved respite makes us dream unrealistically, but I’d prefer to believe that reality is, in fact, different – and that this idyllic setting has materialized closer to me than I could have imagined. Set in a village between São Brás de Alportel and Loulé, Monte da Palmeira is an estate with 2.5 hectares of land and a house with Algarvian characteristics, of around 350 square metres, perfectly suited for experiencing the countryside in all its splendour. The view extends beyond the hilltops, and the lush gardens surrounding it are teeming with olive, almond, fig, lemon and pomegranate trees whose fragrances are both exuberant and unrepeatable. It is this scent of the Algarve that bonds us to nature and defines the tempo of the leisurely days spent in this rural refuge.