Large luxury villa rental with pool in Madrid, Spain

See all:  Villas in Madrid  <Villas in Spain

Rustical´s review                                                  See prices

The entire self-catering property is a tranquil oasis in the heart of a large village (see Colmenar de Oreja on map). Once inside, one might almost be in the countryside. The private and shared spaces have at their centre a plant-filled courtyard, graced with old columns. From here lead off stairs to the gallery that house bedrooms and the winter saloon, and via a grand old wooden door one passes to the swimming pool patio and gardens.

The courtyard gives onto two en suite bedrooms at ground level and an open-plan living room with kitchen. All extremely stylish, very acceptable. Above, one can walk round the open gallery looking over rooftops, with the occasional sound of a church bell or a cock crowing and dive into one of four bedrooms or the winter saloon with its fine hearth and many-windowed wall. This cheerful, luminous sitting and dining room has its own kitchen, room to seat up to 20 people, and a staircase down to the gardens. With three kitchens in total, the property is entirely self-catering.

Back in the courtyard, let’s go down: to the cave. A curious feature of houses in Colmenar (beneath whose grand square runs a tunnel) are these deep and extensive grottos with their museum-like atmosphere, cool in the summer, the ideal spot to store wine. The huge cave is not musty and dark, but neat, well-swept and illuminated.

The accommodation continues from the gardens, which in usual Castilian style sytle are not lawned but planted with fruit trees, and adorned here with vast earthen wine vats and an old well (boarded off for children’s safety). One en suite twin-bedded room adapted to wheelchair users leads directly from the garden, while steps lead up to a self-contained apartment that consists of a large sitting room with two double sofa-beds, a kitchen and a bathroom. It’s a very pleasant space, hung with some contemporary art.

The swimming pool is a generous 9 m by 5m. Like the other exterior spaces, it’s perfectly private, not overlooked by any neighbour.

Colmenar de Oreja (population 8,000) is a typical small Castilian town with some fiesta or other almost every month. With its fountains and courteous populace it’s an agreeable place to wander and stop off at cafés or bars for a tapa or two. At its centre, a five-minute stroll from the property, is one of the finest old squares in Madrid: 18th century, very large and beautiful, framed by porticoes which give shade to bar and restaurant terraces.

Favourite local dishes include pisto vaquero (“cowboy pisto”): veal cooked with tomato and peppers and patatas chulas, potato slices fried in olive oil and served with garlic and fresh parsley.

Colmenar produces olives, good wine and the smooth white stone used to build the Royal Palace and the Cibeles fountain in Madrid. It is 50 km south-east of the capital, from which access is by road (car or bus); the old railway line, best known for a train that whistled more than it went, has been converted into a walking and cycling track. Madrid’s Barajas Airport is just 40 minutes’ drive.

Interesting excursions for adults take you to Aranjuez, whose royal place gardens were the inspiration for Rodrigo’s celebrated guitar concerto, and the delightful village of Chinchon, best known for its anis. Children will be keener to visit Warner Brothers Park, one of the best theme parks in Spain, well-designed and crowd-free.

Facilities
Air conditioning; central heating; fireplaces in each living room; TV & DVD; music system; portable barbecue; outdoor furniture; swimming pool 9 m x 5 m, 1.5 m - 2 m deep; sunloungers, all linen provided.

Distribution
Main building ground floor: lobby leading to courtyard; 2 bedrooms: one double-bedded with shower room/wc, one twin-bedded with shower room/wc; living / dining room with kitchen.
Main building first floor: gallery around courtyard; spacious sitting & dining room; kitchen; 4 bedrooms: one double-bedded with bathroom/wc; one double-bedded with writing desk, large shower room/wc; one twin-bedded room with double sofa-bed and bathroom/wc; one twin-bedded room with writing desk and shower room/wc.
Garden annexe ground floor: one twin-bedded with shower room/wc adapted to wheelchair users.
Garden annexe first floor: large studio with 2 double sofa-beds & kitchen; shower room/wc.
Exterior: dining area; swimming pool and patio; gardens.

Location & Distances
Near the main square in Colmenar de Oreja (all facilities).

NOTES ON AVAILABILITY FOR THIS PROPERTY: