Within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park, this lovely old farmhouse is set within ten acres of olives, sweet chestnuts, cork
oaks, walnuts, figs and fruit trees. In Spring, the land is a riot of wild flowers
including cistus, lavender, oregano, mint, sweet peas and lupins. It's a very
peaceful spot in a breathtakingly beautiful part of Southern Spain.
Accessed from the ancient drove road which used to lead down from Portugal to
Sevilla, it is set well back from the track, up a curving drive through olive
groves. It's an excellent location, beautiful countryside all around yet little
more than a kilometre from the charming little market town of Aracena.
Light
and spacious, downstairs there is a huge living room, with beamed ceiling, ample
seating and a large fireplace for a cosy log fire during the cooler months. An
arch leads into a well-equipped kitchen, with a Smeg Range cooker, dishwasher
and all mod cons.
There is a library, also with a
beamed ceiling, where you can escape to read or work. The house has satellite
broadband access. There is a laundry room with washing machine and tumble dryer
and beyond this is a downstairs loo, with a shower. The TV room is also situated
off the living room and has an extensive video library. This room also doubles
as a fifth (double) bedroom as it has a comfy sofa bed.
The four, wooden-beamed
bedrooms are upstairs. The master bedroom is enormous with its own en-suite bathroom.
There are two other generous-sized doubles, one of which can be made up as a twin-bedded
room if preferred. The fourth, smaller bedroom has a single brass bed and a single
futon which can be made up as another bed. A good-sized bathroom completes the
accommodation.
Outside, there's a large terrace, shaded by olive trees,
where most meals are taken during the summer months and occasionally in January
too! There's a barbecue and outdoor furniture for al fresco eating. There's
ample room for sunbathing around the delightful swimming pool (8.2 m x 4.5 m,
1.2 m deep throughout).
In Spring, there is a wonderful world to discover in the countryside of the Sierra, the hills and valleys alive with a marvellous profusion of wild flowers. It's fantastic walking countryside with a myriad of pathways, ancient drovers roads and "caminos reales" which lead all over the natural park.
Aracena,
famous for its underground caves and lakes, the Gruta de las Maravillas and its ruined Moorish castle, is a bustling and very attractive town with a covered
market boasting three fish stalls and two meat stalls as well as plenty of fruit
and vegetables. This is ham country and there are excellent butchers supplying
the eighty-odd bars and restaurants which do thriving business throughout the
year. There is also a new theatre, and discos for the more adventurous.
There
are several major fiestas throughout the year with the most famous being the Romeria
de la Reina de los Angeles on 8th September, when the town makes its way up
to the Peña at Alajar on foot, on horseback, in carts pulled by mules, oxen and
even on tractors. It's a wonderful blend of religion and revelry. Other fiestas include
those held in honour of the Jamon (ham) and Seta (mushrooms); well,
any excuse for a party!
Aracena
is an easy one hour drive from Seville, a city which must not be missed. The
Costa de la Luz is a 90 minute trip, passing through dramatic scenery which includes
the Rio Tinto mines. It's well worth the journey, not least for its vast open
beaches of golden white sand, the dazzlingly blue Atlantic and for its chirringuitos (beach restaurants) where you can enjoy a relaxing, casual and inexpensive lunch.
