LoginOur search for a Spanish cortijo
So we at last retired and thought we would build a nice little place in Spain for long summer siestas, a swim in our own pool and a home cooked paella now and again. We had always wanted to build our own place and now seemed to be the right time. We had decided that we did not like the modern villas and wanted an old style, country Finca which would have the mod-cons but retain the old features, a nice fireplace for the winter times and close enough for us to walk to nearby shops and restaurants.
So we started our search....various plots of land came up and we trekked up hill and down dale to see them..."the land stretches from that old almond tree, over there to that white painted stone and back to the road" .... "electricity is coming and it won't be long before it gets here"...."there's no need for planning, we just get on with it and do the paperwork later"......... "you are entitled to an access road and the government is obliged to lay a roadway to your property wherever it is built"....... Luckily we had owned a small apartment in Spain for many years and knew what "manana" really means - "never"!
After weeks of looking and feeling really tired from a very long walk over the mountains we stopped for a café con leche and next door was an estate agency where my wife decided that she would "pop-in" to see if anything might be available.........and there it was.....a semi-rural finca, part of an old Cortijo, within 900 metres of the beach and shops, mostly refurbished and for sale. It seemed just right. Knowing Estate Agent Speak we wanted to view but we had to wait 3 days until we could have an appointment to view! On the appointed day we arrived to view and by the time we had descended some of the steps we had both decided that we would buy it - we had not even seen the inside but we went with our instincts.
Membrillo is the love of our lives and of all the family and our friends.. Our guests write such lovely reviews and the majority of them are families with three generations coming back year after year, often celebrating major events and we do the same.
Having five double bedrooms and five bathrooms, lots of sitting areas, an outside summer kitchen, a lovely pool, large gazebo and facing south, it's a real family location, now fully restored and with everything you could possibly need. We normally get fully booked a year in advance so you need to be thinking 2017 at least to secure a booking.
Further details about the Symingtons` fabulous villa near Moraira can be found at https://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/el-membrillo.