Blue Altitude

Just a ten-minute drive from the centre of this island's beautiful capital city, this stunning home is high on a hillside overlooking the glittering Atlantic. With large spaces for socialising both indoors and out and enough luxurious bedrooms for a big group, it's stylish, comfortable and comes with a wow-factor pool terrace built out over the slope. If you're coming to Madeira for the sea views, it's got some of the best around. Inside, it's a modern home with mainly white and grey tones and anthracite-framed windows and doors. The kitchen is sleek and high-spec, with a huge island breakfast bar, an indoor dining table and sliding glass doors out to a dining terrace with fabulous views. Several of the bedrooms have balconies and there are private outdoor spots for evening stargazing or morning coffees in peace. Dive into the huge pool to wake yourself up each morning or enjoy relaxing sunset swims before dinner. From here, you're just a short drive from the shops and restaurants of the city, but we suspect you'll spend most of your evenings grilling your meals on the barbecue – the views here are just too good to be missed.

Home truths:
*If you're hiring a car to better explore the island, there's private parking here, but you can also catch a bus into Funchal from very close by
*The owners live in the house higher up the hillside but you won't be overlooked
*The pool is heated so it can be available throughout the year
*If you're staying longer than a week then cleaning and linen changes will take place weekly
*There are plenty of steps at this home and it's on a hill
*Expect to see some signs of general wear and tear here, including a few chipped pool tiles
*The bathroom blinds and window don't open, so it can get a little stuffy