Villa Description
This lovely old country farmhouse is set in rolling hills to the west of Granada. It's as rustic as they come, renovated and refurnished with attention to the smallest details, carefully recreating the authentic atmosphere of days gone by.
A genuine, traditional farmhouse, it abounds with antique furniture and curios that belonged to the family and their relatives.
A house of great character, it's as authentically Spanish as can be. A classic, its timber beamed ceilings and gorgeous old floor tiles offset by white walls. Floor patterns vary from room to room, adding to the uniqueness of the place.
Past the welcoming outside terrace and its vine-covered porch is a spacious entrance hall with bedrooms to either side.
Further on is a sitting / dining room with an open fireplace, a well-appointed kitchen and bathroom.
Upstairs are the remaining bedrooms, and another huge lounge with an open fireplace. There is also a cheerful play corner for small children. This opens to another attractive terrace space, with views far and wide.
To the rear, accessed from the downstairs sitting room is a barbecue terrace. You don't have to go far to find fresh thyme for your steak, or parsley for the salad, as the owners have an organic vegetable patch full of good and healthy vegetables and herbs.
And for dessert, how about sun-ripened grapes or a feast of figs? Assuming it's the right time of year, all you need do is reach up and pick them.
The icing on the cake is the good sized swimming pool, private and enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Fenced and gated, for rural tranquillity and peacefulness this is hard to beat; rolling pasture lands and olive dotted hillsides undulate gently into the far horizon.
For the curious, next to the house a small cave has been turned into a little museum full of all sorts of old farm implements and utensils.
Apart from one other farmhouse in the mid distance (which faces in the opposite direction anyway) it's just classical Andalusian countryside as far as the eye can see. This is the very heart of "El Poniente Granadino", the western frontier of "Al-Andalus", the old Moorish Kingdom of Granada.
It's a couple of kilometres from the little pueblo of Ventorros de San José (population approx. 2,000; three bar/ restaurants serving authentic local fare at very reasonable prices, two banks, a petrol station, a chemist and a medical centre; internet connection available in the Town Hall).
The closest town of any size is Loja, 20 kilometres to the south.
Loja (population 20,000) was an important Moorish stronghold in days gone by because of its strategic position. Once the gateway to the Kingdom of Granada, it's now a little market town of genuine Andaluz character.
A few kilometres outside Loja on the Río Genil are a series of waterfalls that have been designated a protected area, always a pleasant shady spot for a riverside picnic. The Sierra de Loja provides a dramatic backdrop to the town, its highest point, the Cerro de Santa Lucía at 1,671m.
With over 50 caves close to town, caving is popular activity, along with hang-gliding, fishing, hiking and cycling.
Here, in El Poniente, although in "the middle of nowhere" with nothing but rural peace and harmony to enjoy, it's nevertheless a very central location in Andalucía.
The motorway network will quickly and easily take you to Granada (one hour from the farmhouse), to Málaga (1¼ hrs) or to Sevilla (2½ hrs).
Or cut across country via Algarinejo, Iznájar and Rute to pick up the A-45 motorway to Córdoba (2 hrs). The high peaks of Sierra Nevada and the beaches of the Costa Tropical and the Costa del Sol are also within easy striking distance.
All around the farmhouse is a region of pastoral splendour, great natural charm, warm, welcoming people and ancestral traditions. The pace of life is slow and steady, the authentic Andaluz way. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the area on horseback, by bicycle or hiking in the surrounding hills.
You are just a few kilometres from the huge embalse (reservoir) of Iznajár. Also known as the Lake of Andalucía, it hosts water sports and fishing and has its own beach at Valdearenas where you can swim, rent pedalos and canoes or learn to sail.
Its beautiful, clear blue waters are safe for children to swim or play in and there's sand to lie on. It tends to be busier on Sundays but is usually very quiet during the week, even in the height of the season.
Iznajár (well worth a visit) sits on top of a huge rocky outcrop towering up from the waters. Views from the village are spectacular.
For something completely different, head north to Priego de Córdoba (45 minutes away), a lovely town which is Andalucía at its most refined and authentic. A dignified, convivial provincial town with a beautiful historic centre and more than its fair share of marvellous baroque churches. All around, the spectacular countryside of the Subbética Natural Park.
In less than an hour you can get to Antequera, another of Spain's lovely, sun-soaked 'pueblos'. Hugely rich in history, culture and heritage, it retains an almost medieval air although, these days, it boasts a first class golf course too.
Other places of interest and beauty well worth a visit include Ronda, the Sierra Nevada, El Torcal Natural Park (near Antequera), the Alpujarras and Gibraltar, as well as the resort towns on the Mediterranean coast.
Obviously this is not a property for anyone who wants 21st Century design and panache but if you are seeking to experience genuine Andalusian country-style living, the way it has always been over many hundreds of years, this old farmhouse certainly offers it. The pool is of more recent vintage, of course!
The perfect place for doing nothing much at all, just absorbing the soft sounds and warm sunshine of the lovely countryside all around.
Villa Details
Weather permitting, the swimming pool will be open from May to September, inclusive
Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday in high season
A welcome pack can be provided on request (payable locally)
Villa Prices
2020 Season Dates | Sleeping 4 per week |
Sleeping 5/8 per week |
---|---|---|
5th January to 13th March | 650 € | 850 € |
14th March to 26th June | 910 € | 1,170 € |
27th June to 28th August | 1,490 € | 1,490 € |
29th August to 11th September | 910 € | 1,170 € |
12th September to 11th December | 650 € | 850 € |
12th December to 3rd January 2021 | 910 € | 1,170 € |
2021 Season Dates | Sleeping 4 per week |
Sleeping 5/8 per week |
---|---|---|
Prices Pending | --- | --- |
In low and mid season prices are dependent on the number of guests occupying the property.
A 250 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.
Villa Availability
Villa Location
In open countryside, 2 km from Ventorros de San José (basic facilities, bars, restaurants, bank etc), 20 km from Loja (all facilities) in El Poniente Granadino region (Province of Granada).
Algarinejo 20 mins; Iznájar 30 mins; Montefrio 30 mins; Priego de Córdoba 45 mins.
Torremolinos (Mediterranean beaches) 1½ hrs; Sierra Nevada Ski Resort 1½ hrs.
Granada 1 hr; Málaga 1¼ hrs; Sevilla 2½ hrs.
See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.
The western frontier of "Al-Andalus", the old Moorish Kingdom of Granada, it's a region of great natural charm and welcoming people …
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With the limestone massif of La Sierra de Loja behind, this small town opens to the olive groves and cereal fields of the fertile vega (plain) of Granada …