The Place
Hillside Sanctuary sits on a rural estate in Silveira, São Marcos da Serra, within the municipality of Silves in the Algarve interior. Surrounded by rolling hills, cork oaks, wild herbs and the quiet rhythm of inland Portugal, the property includes a renovated main house, a distinctive dome building, pool, terraces, agricultural land and one small dam.
This is not the coastal Algarve of beach resorts and golf courses. It is the other Algarve — quieter, wilder, more rooted.
The Vision
We are building a regenerative agri-tourism and wellness sanctuary that renews guests, supports dignified local livelihoods and restores the land.
Our approach is deliberately small-scale, host-led and community-linked. We are not a mass-market wellness retreat. We are not a generic rural rental. We are a private sanctuary where land, water, Aloe, bees and human wellbeing come together.
The Model: Locally Inclusive
Most rural tourism operations try to keep guest spending inside their walls. We do the opposite.
We have built a network of 29 community partners across São Marcos da Serra, Silves and the wider Algarve — therapists, yoga teachers, craft workshops, local restaurants, beekeepers and food producers. When you book a massage, visit a pottery workshop or eat at a family restaurant through us, your money stays in the community.
Our targets:
- 70% of staff hired locally by Year 3
- 60% of procurement from Algarve suppliers by Year 2
- At least 4 open community days per year
- Annual impact dashboard tracking jobs, spend, training and partner referrals
The Land
The property encompasses agricultural terraces, a natural spring, one small dam, mature trees and space for Aloe cultivation, an apiary and regenerative planting. We treat water as precious — every drop is monitored within a drought-conscious model appropriate to the Algarve.
Agricultural activity is not decoration. It is a core part of who we are.
Hillside Sanctuary Lda
Hillside Sanctuary is operated by Hillside Sanctuary Lda, a Portuguese company founded by Andre and Ilana Jankowitz. The property was acquired in 2026 with the intention of building a long-term, responsible and community-contributing enterprise — not a speculative flip.