Decorated to be in keeping with Gaucin's historical past, this centrally located house has a private swimming pool and provision for garage parking.
The location of this holiday home just cannot be beaten. Set just off a quiet plaza, shops, restaurants and café bars are less than a minute's walk away.
The owners of this holiday home love renovating houses and tastefully furnishing them with artefacts from their European travels. The results are always top notch. For practical purposes, the house is central, right in Gaucín itself, but in a quiet street. Parking can sometimes be a bit difficult to find in the village, but this house has garage parking for a compact family car.
The house has a private pool and garden which are reached from the dining terrace. There are 18 stairs down to the garden which is bordered on the right with pampas grass, lavender, oleander and three Mediterranean cypress trees. On the left is a little olive tree and lilies which flank the wooden decking path to the rectangular swimming pool. The pool area has four wicker sunbeds and a parasol for shade, the water is accessed by three semi-circular corner steps. There are next door neighbours on the left and although the pool is only slightly overlooked, these neighbours are not permanently resident and would not intrude on your pool enjoyment.
Below the pool terrace is an allotment-orchard, called a huerta in Spanish. You can see the village landscape twinkling white and the mountain at the edge of Gaucín. And beyond that … what a view, a view to the sea shining flat and blue. On a clear day you can see all the way to Africa.
The house has been cleverly furnished to combine modern comfort and traditional styles.
You come into the house, straight from the street and enter into a whitewashed hall. Then, step through this hall to the main living space with a large salon on the left and the dining area on the right. The furnishings at the entrance are rustic and austere, giving the hall a 16th century feel. There is an ancient chest and a rush-seated bench set against the walls, any minute Cervantes could arrive and fling down his travelling cape!
The whole impression is one of a house from days gone by: gilt-edged picture frames, the oval wooden dining table, chandeliers, the decor in pale grey and white, all old-fashioned Spanish elegance and splendour. The floor throughout the house is of traditional barro (clay) tiles. The remnants of the original chimney have been retained on the dining room wall as an interesting reminder of how the house was 200 years ago.
With views like this, you'll see why Gaucín has been a vantage point since Roman times.
All the bedrooms are upstairs, they are all doubles and have en suite bathrooms and central heating. For the summer, two bedrooms have air conditioning, the bedroom without air conditioning is north-facing, so is cooler. The landing is a grand space with a high ceiling. It has an interesting wood carving on the wall along with an antique table. The bedrooms lead off from here.
Bedroom (1) has a double bed with an iron bedstead and marble-topped dressing table and mirror. There are French windows to a Juliet balcony which looks out on to the (quiet) street. The bathroom has a walk-in shower, wc and brass hand basin set in an antique washstand. A coloured, stained-glass window casts a pretty light.
Bedroom (2) is a twin bedded room (the beds can be pushed together to make a double) with French windows to a roof terrace. The terrace has views to the Mediterranean and is furnished with a marble table and four chairs. Pots of bougainvillea brighten up the exterior walls. This is a spacious bedroom, having a writing bureau and armchair as well as two bedside chairs for the reading lamps.
The en suite bathroom to this bedroom is decorated in a faded pinky-red, with gilt fittings. It’s in beautiful old-fashioned taste and has a similar stained-glass window to bedroom (1). There is a walk-in shower, wc and ceramic bowl hand-basin with a grey marble surround.
Bedroom (3) is also a twin bedded room where the beds can be pushed together to make a double. This room has crystal chandeliers which light up the sloping ceiling with its exposed wooden beams. This bedroom also has access to the roof terrace through double French doors. There is a big, freestanding wardrobe, an unusual bedside table between the two beds and a padded chair. The metal and glass bedside table, like most of the furniture in the house has an unusual background. It was originally from Jaen, is over fifty years old and the owner thinks it came from a hospital. Most of the furniture and fittings in this house are from antique shops, cleverly re adapted and renovated for modern use.
The decor in this en suite bathroom is a dignified olive green. The oval interior window sheds light on the walk-in shower, wc and ceramic bowl hand basin in classic, el-Andalus design.
The colours used in the bathrooms are reminiscent of a Moroccan hammam.
All the bathrooms in this house are delightful in their decor, facilities and cleanliness. Colour is used to enhance the bathing experience. The tones and design of the fittings have been specifically chosen to hint at Gaucín’s Moorish past.
The kitchen is off the dining area. Although fitted out in a traditional and rustic design with white marble work surfaces and curtained cupboards, the appliances are all modern. There are twin sinks in stone, a three-ring ceramic hob, electric oven, coffee machine, and electric kettle. Plenty of glassware, cutlery and crockery are provided along with pots and pans. The windows have wooden shutters, one has a view looking south over the Genal valley, the other looks east towards the dining terrace.
The sun shines on the south-facing terrace and garden all day.
The living area has two sofas and two leather armchairs arranged around two coffee tables put together. There are two French windows, one leading to the dining terrace and the other to a Juliet balcony overlooking the pool and garden. The woodburner in the corner is guaranteed to keep you warm in winter, although the house also has the benefit of more modern central heating.
The house was warm and cosy when we visited on a cold, damp November. For your entertainment there is a Sony flatscreen TV with DVD player and a Pioneer sound system. A range of board games is available for guests to use.
The outdoor dining terrace is covered and shaded from the sun, its table seats six. Apparently it was a carpenter’s table in olden times. As this is a town house, there are neighbours, but there is no imposition on your quiet enjoyment.
A gentle evening stroll could lead you to a hidden tapas bar.
There is a door off the entrance hall which leads to the interior garage and parking. Seven steps down from the garage is the store room (boiler) and washing machine. This utility area opens directly on to the garden. From this part of the garden you can take the 18 steps back up to the body of the main house.
The magic of this house is that it is so close to cafés for a morning coffee and restaurants for a special dinner out. The bar nearest the property caters for very local tastes and offers a good variety of tapas. For a meal one night, why not pick a few of these little plates (be adventurous, choose something you’ve never heard of!) and a cold beer. It’s economical, filling and very Spanish. They also do the typical Andalusian breakfast of toast, tomato (jamon optional, but recommended), with good coffee, of course.
Gaucín is a very pretty pueblo blanco with a somewhat ‘arty’ vibe. At the same time, it is authentically Spanish with its narrow streets, bright flowers in pots and fountains.
There are lots of things to do in Gaucín itself. The ruined castle at the top of the village is not called the Eagle’s Castle for nothing, but once you’ve got your breath back, the view from the top is spectacular. The 15th century church of San Sebastián is worth a look too. For those who come seeking beauty in nature, you won’t be disappointed by the walking, horse-riding and birdwatching available in this area.
For a different Spain, the beaches (half an hour away) offer clean bathing and a lively buzz. There’s golf, day trips to Morocco and excursions to Sevilla, Jerez and Ronda to name just a few. This villa is an ideal base from which to start exploring the delights of southern Andalucía.
All the facts and features about this villa
The property is available for rental throughout the year.
For winter rentals, firewood may be ordered and is paid for locally. Central heating is included in the price.
The house is on three levels so is not suitable for guests with mobility problems.
Please, no smoking inside the house.
Linen and towels are changed once a week.
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday but there is flexibility in low season.
There is cleaning fee for guest, payable locally on arrival.
Cleaning Price sleeping 2: 70 €
Cleaning Price sleeping 4: 100 €
Cleaning Price sleeping 6: 130 €
A 350 Euro security deposit is required on each booking. This is held against your credit or debit card and will be cancelled one week after your holiday, subject to any reductions for breakages or damage. See Terms and Conditions for full details.
RB/CR/MA/00594
| 2024 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| 7tht January to 30th April | 1,050 € | 2,100 € |
| 1st May to 30th June | 1,130 € | 2,260 € |
| 1st July to 30th September | 1,380€ | 2,760 € |
| 1st October to 31st October | 1,130 € | 2,260 € |
| 1st November to 22nd December | 1,050 € | 2,100 € |
| 23rd December to 30th December | 1,380 € | 2,760 € |
| 2025 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
In the village of Gaucin (most facilities) in the Ronda Mountains region (Province of Málaga).
