Just below the village, on a high ridgetop, a perfect choice if you’re in search of a really big house to get together with friends and family...
Absolutely stunning location nestled in the undulating hills above the white village of Casarabonela
Even though Casarabonela is only half an hour from the Málaga and its coast, don’t expect any of the urban sprawl of the coastal resorts. This delightfully sleepy village, with its labyrinth of narrow streets where you’ll find friendly bars, restaurants and shops tucked away round every corner, feels like a step back in Time.
To its north the Sierra de Robla climbs steeply up to almost 600m whilst in the valley below groves of citrus and almonds, and fields of wheat, stretch away towards the sea: the area is blessed by one of the most benign climates along Spain’s southern coast whilst in the sizzling summer months the breezes that blow in from the sea help keep things at a comfortable level.
"This delightfully sleepy village, feels like a step back in Time!"
Just below the village, on a high ridgetop, this spacious villa makes a perfect choice if you’re in search of a really big house to get together with friends and family. With masses of communal living space, soaring views and a fully equipped kitchens you’ll find it difficult to drag yourself away from this idyllic spot!
To reach the house you follow a narrow, winding road down from the village, before cutting steeply up to the house’s ridgetop perch. The house is built in authentically andaluz style, fronted by a courtyard with a Moorish-style fountain, wafer-bricked columns supporting its entrance portal and topped by terracota tiles. Window surrounds are highlighted in classic, sandy-ochre albero tones whilst potted geraniums and succulents complete a very pretty picture on arrival.
Take advantage of the spectacular views and catch the evening breezes. With so many nooks and crannies there are plenty of places to get away, or to congregate en masse.
Stepping inside the house feels cool and airy. The terracotta floor tiles of the outer terraces are replaced within by shiny ceramic tiles and everything sparkles like the newest pin: you’d hardly believe that it’s over a decade since the house was built. A reception desk in one corner of the entrance hall hints at its previous life: it was once a luxurious small hotel and has kept the owners’ original, high spec’ brief when it came to his choice of all materials, furnishings and fabrics.
"from 75 year old grandad to 1 year old grandson, EVERYONE equally enjoyed themselves."
Leading off from one side of the entrance hall you’ll find a generously proportioned sitting room. Painted in pale, pastel yellow contrasted by cushioned sofas and easy chairs in shades of plum and chalky blue, many decorative touches, along with original art work including a serie of framed prints of old Havana (there’s a family connection). High French windows flanked by yellow curtains lead out to the main terrace whilst a high, south-facing bay window has its own window seat, table and chairs. A big 40 inch plasma screen TV as well as a DVD player and music system. All windows are shuttered on the inside – the very best way to keep the summer heat at bay – whilst a glass-fronted wood-burner for the cooler times of year. The sitting room is big enough for everyone to gather in comfort.
And the cosy television room/snug, where you’ll find more comfy chairs and sofas, is perfect when some of your group wish to slip away to watch a DVD or a favourite TV programme.
To the other side of the entrance hall the dining room shares a similar decorative brief. This room also has high French windows giving onto the covered terrace with half a dozen wooden tables that can be slotted together according to the number of people in your party. The wooden, upholstered dining chairs are really comfortable. The same yellow colour scheme as you find in the sitting rooms imparts a fresh and airy vibe whilst a dark-wood dresser and a large, gilt-framed mirror add an air of formality. The dining room also has a woodburner set into a bricked fire place.
"You wouldn’t feel short-changed staying in any one of nine bedrooms... They are all supurb"
All bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and the same eye-catching wooden doors, windows and furniture with fabrics syncing nicely with their three different colour schemes: yellow, green or lilac-blue. Superbly equipped with fitted wardobes, antique writing desks, Casablanca-style fans and hot-and-cold airconditioning, the nine rooms take their names from different villages in the region.
Yunquera and Tolox are the only groud floor rooms. Casarabonela is, appropriately, the largest room and this is the only that has no bath tub though its shower room is enormous. Gauro is right next door, another really big room with a large double bed. Of the remaining rooms Istán, Monda and Ojén – a double, twin and a double respectively – all have French windows leading out to a long sweep of terrace whilst Alozaina, a double and El Burgo, a twin, are of similar proportions and identically equipped.
"This house is perfect, we had the most fantastic time - and the terrace is a great place to while away the evenings"
The mature terraced garden, with a swimming pool secreted away some 50m from the house behind a stand of cypress and oleander, was designed in the best of Mediterranean traditions. In amongst the original vegetation of wild olive and carob are agave, prickly pears, succulents, canary and falm palms along with bougainvillea, jasmine, bottle brush, roses and citrus trees.
"Nestled on it's own hill top almost every window provides epic views of the surrounding countryside."
A winding, terracotta pathway leads to the kidney-shaped 9.5m x 5m swimming pool – it has a liner rather than tiles – with a large expanse of terrace with views south towards Málaga and the sea. You’ll find a table and chairs should you fancy eating by the chlorine-filtered pool along with plenty of blue and yellow sun loungers and white, moveable parasols. There’s also a table tennis table that can be wheeled out should you fancy a game.
We LOVED it here!
When UK celebrity chef Rick Stein came to Spain in search of a venue for assembling a few time-tried Andalusian recipes this was his chosen venue. What no doubt clinched it for the gentle-mannered maestro was having the use of such a superbly equipped kitchen which was created with professional catering in mind. He also fell in love with the surroundings, but, there again … who wouldn’t?
At centre stage is an industrial, 6 ring gas hob and oven whilst a long sweep of marble-topped surfaces together with a huge central island ensure you can really spread yourself around when prepping meals. Anybody with Masterchef aspirations will find all they need for culinary experimentation whilst the fact that this is such a big space means that everyone can lend a hand, if that’s required or desired.
If you’re staying during the warmer months a large part of your holiday day will be spent on the high, southwest-facing terrace which remains shaded during the day. This is a perfect place for alfresco meals: you’ll find plenty of outside chairs and tables – these ones round rather than square – that can be linked up when dining as a larger group. It would be hard to find a more delectable spot for a sundowner whilst looking out to the village and, beyond, the lofty crest of the Sierra de Robla.
"Words almost fail me! This is without doubt the most well appointed & beautiful rental property we have ever stayed in."
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open throughout the year (although, because it’s not heated, the normal swimming season is from mid May to September, inclusive)
Please, no smoking inside
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday.
The electricity meter is read on arrival and on departure. Above the normal usage of 24,5€ per day electricity is charged at 35 cents pkW, paid in cash locally.
Central heating and air conditioning will be charged locally depending on usage.
Catering, babysitting, extra cleaning can be arranged on request.
RB/H/MA/01529
2023 Season Dates | Sleeping up to 14 per week | Sleeping up to 14 per fortnight | Sleeping 15 to 18 per week | Sleeping 15 to 18 per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th January to 16th March | 3,610 € | 6,430 € | 3,780 € | 6,750 € |
| 17th March to 18th May | 3,890 € | 7,300 € | 4,330 € | 8,110 € |
| 19th May to 15th June | 4,500 € | 8,530 € | 5,020 € | 9,560 € |
| 16th June to 8th September | 5,310 € | 10,140 € | 5,650 € | 10,830 € |
| 9th September to 29th September | 4,500 € | 8,530 € | 5,020 € | 9,560 € |
| 30th September to 5th November | 3,890 € | 7,300 € | 4,330 € | 8,180 € |
| 6th November to 14th December | 3,610 € | 6,340 € | 3,780 € | 6,750 € |
| 15th December to 15th January 2024 | 3,890 € | 7,300 € | 4,330 € | 8,180 € |
| 2024 Season Dates | Week | Fortnight |
|---|---|---|
| Prices Pending | — | — |
In open countryside 2 km from Casarabonela (most facilities, shops, banks, bars, restaurants etc) in the Antequera region (Province of Málaga)
