€585,000

In Praia da Rocha, "frontline" usually means one thing: a façade facing the sand, the bustle, everything that's always happening below. This duplex apartment is frontline in a different way it faces the Arade River, the Marina and Ferragudo, a view that barely exists anywhere else in this part of town. And perhaps that's why it's also one of the few places where you can be in the heart of the Rocha and, by evening, find a silence so complete it could be the countryside. This is a property that has been through several renovations over the years without ever losing its essence the owners kept preserving, time and again, what gave the house its character: the original clay tile floor, the staircase with its wooden details, old wardrobes that were kept in place but gently updated repainted, cared for to keep pace with the rest of the house. The result isn't a house stuck in the past, nor one that erased everything about it; it's both at once, which is rarer than it sounds. It's a duplex with its own exterior access you step into the apartment without going through the building. Two renovated bathrooms, an open, renovated kitchen, air conditioning, a private terrace. A short walk from the beach, and about a hundred metres from the Marina, with a private condominium exit leading straight there the best of both worlds, without ever leaving home behind. The condominium also has private outdoor parking, a real asset these days. The view speaks for itself: the Arade River opening up ahead, boats coming and going from the Marina, Ferragudo across the water, in a light that's never quite the same in the early morning as it is in the late afternoon. It's the view that's missing almost everywhere else in this part of Praia da Rocha and here, it's there every day, without ever leaving the house. Right at the door is also the 17th-century Fort of Santa Catarina, now a viewpoint over the whole of Praia da Rocha the cliffs, the sand, the ocean stretching to the horizon. It's one of the most photographed spots in the Algarve, and here there's no need to plan a visit: it's just a few steps away, any time you fancy seeing the beach from another angle. Portimão isn't just a summer town: it's the western Algarve's main hub for services hospital, international schools, shops and restaurants that stay open year-round and it sits right next to one of the country's largest marinas. Faro airport is under 40 minutes away, which makes it just as practical for full-time living as for coming and going Some houses gain value because they're new. And some gain value because they're renovated while preserving their history. Because authenticity can't be bought later it's either preserved, or it's lost for good. **Key points:** - 2-bed duplex, 95 sqm plus terrace - Private exterior access, no need to go through the building - Views over the Arade River, the Marina and Ferragudo - Two renovated bathrooms - Open, renovated kitchen - Outdoor parking within the condominium - Laundry and storage area - Furnished and equipped - A short walk from the beach and the Marina, with a private condominium exit to the Marina side