Beautiful old Ronda villa, like a small chateau among its vineyards

Full Property description & Rustical Review

This private villa of quality and dignity is less than 10 minutes from the centre of Ronda town.

Surrounded by its own vineyards, it is reminiscent of a small chateau, with views extending to the Ronda mountains.

You'll find it hidden away in a countryside just outside the famous town, in an area of occasional villas and cottages where local people come to tend their fruit trees, ride horses, or spend the weekend at their country retreat.

From parking within the villa's grounds, one walks past a tinkling drinking water fountain round to an intimately private entrance. The old Andalusian house has a  cheerful façade and flower gardens, with broad, easy steps down to the enticing swimming pool below.

We liked the traditional elements of this otherwise thoroughly up-to-date property. A stained glass hallway door opens to a wood-beamed living room, where the original, decorated floor tiles are inlaid with wood, and stately paintings adorn the walls by an open fireplace. It has the serene ambience that only genuine old houses produce. The main living area is furnished with large sofas and there’s another comfortable sitting corner as well.

Cushioned antique chairs are placed to seat eight people at a large oak dining table, and the nearby kitchen is well-equipped and positioned to serve meals either inside, or out through a kitchen door to the covered dining terrace. A large brick-built barbecue here offers another way to prepare tasty local meats and vegetables.

The house has five bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms. Two are downstairs, two are upstairs, and the fifth is a ground-floor annexe with an independent entrance outside.

The accommodation is beautifully fitted out. Smart kitchen equipment balances antique furnishings, a shower room is strikingly tiled in blue, bedrooms may have an armchair or rocking chair, and the entire first floor has a polished wooden floor, making bedrooms and bathrooms rather special. We checked the beds and they’re a full two metres long and very comfortable, too.

Although the Ronda climate is very warm and sunny, this traditional property is refreshingly cool indoors and air conditioning simply isn’t necessary. Fans are provided, however, and windows can be shaded by curtains and hemp blinds.

The villa is also suitable for winter lets, with central heating and firewood included.

You have broadband WiFi internet here and good mobile cover.

The swimming pool is stylishly set in a lower garden area and both villa and pool are totally private, with established vineyards all round and no nearby neighbours . We liked the way the pool area links with the barbecue terrace and the cushioned, wooden sunbeds (there are eight, and a sunshade if the sun is strong).

The location is, of course, a major reason for choosing this villa. Although it’s a countryside setting, you are in fact remarkably close to Ronda. A ten-minute drive takes you to the heart of this historic town, which has recently overtaken Cordoba in popularity with foreign visitors.

The classic attractions of the spectacular bridge over the town’s deep chasm, the old bullring and museums (including a unique bandits’ museum) are one thing, quite another is the variety, number and excellence of the restaurants and tapas bars.

As one of your holiday documents we’ll send you our guide to the most interesting of these. And for home cooking we will direct you to a large nearby supermarket.

On the quiet lanes near the villa are a couple of country restaurants if you prefer to dine out away from the town and Arriate village is an interesting nearby choice for shopping and restaurants.

Hikers will be keen to head over to Grazalema’s limestone peaks for fabulous walks in the Natural Park just 30 minutes away, the Genal Valley, or the Sierra de las Nieves, while the drive down to beaches on the Costa del Sol takes an hour.

See other:  Large Villas in Spain

Facilities

4-ring vitroceramic hob and electric oven; microwave; toaster; juicer; kettle; coffee maker; dishwasher; fridge-freezer; additional freezer; barbecue; fans; central heating; open fireplace (firewood included); satellite TV (limited channels in English & German); DVD; CD/radio; broadband WiFi internet; hairdryer; iron & board; cot & highchair available; private swimming pool (8 m x 3.5 m, 1.20 – 2 m deep) with steps; illuminated pool area; sunbeds; sun shade; garden furniture; all bedding and towels provided, including pool towels; private parking.

Distribution

On two floors
Ground floor: entrance lobby; living room with open fireplace & TV/DVD; sitting area; dining areas; kitchen & pantry; WC; twin-bedded room with en suite shower room/WC; twin-bedded room with en suite bathroom (shower over bathtub/WC).
Ground floor annexe: independent entrance; double-bedded room with en suite shower room/WC.
First floor: twin-bedded room with en suite bathroom (shower over bathtub/WC) & rocking chair; double-bedded room with en suite bathroom (shower over bathtub/WC/bidet) & armchair.
Exterior: furnished, shaded dining terrace and brick-built barbecue; swimming pool; flower gardens; private parking with outdoor lighting.

Notes

-The swimming pool is maintained and open all year, weather permitting, but is not heated.
-Twin beds can be pushed together and made up as doubles on request.