Casa do Ouvidor

Azoreans excel at modern rural tourism and Casa do Ouvidor on the central island of Pico is one of the best.

Before the tarmac road ever reached the north coast village of Sao Roque, Casa do Ouvidor was built. A typical Azorean farm, it’s heavy-duty basalt walls were built to weather the worst of the winter and to embrace the best of summer.

Nowadays, it’s main house and outbuildings have been repurposed in three thoroughly-modern casas. The tough exterior remains, whilst inside the décor is contemporary Azorean: clean and uncluttered, yet homely and welcoming thanks to owner Maria Jose’s discerning selection of soft furnishings.

Casa da Terra is distinguished by it’s shades of green, reflecting the colours of the surrounding grasslands and meadows. The living room, bathroom and fully-equipped kitchen/diner are on the ground floor, and on the first floor one double bedroom and one twin, each with a private bathroom.

Casa do Mar’s shades of blue create a maritime feel, and a shaded porch leads you into the living room/diner, with a kitchen and bathroom also on the ground floor. Upstairs, there’s one double bedroom and one twin once again, each with it’s own private bathroom.

Casa do Fogo’s livery has shades of red inside and out. The smallest of the three casas, Fogo was the original workshop and it’s layout is reversed – one double and one twin room on the ground floor (each with a private bathroom), and a living room/kitchnette and balcony on the first floor.

Outside, there’s a shared outdoor pool and garden, with sweeping views over Sao Roque and across the channel to Sao Jorge.