Casa Irene: A pretty, traditional villa in the heart of the inland Andalusia countryside

Nuzzled high on a mountain in the heart of inland Andalucia and with snippets of an aqua-blue lake below, Casa Irene boasts incredible views of some of Southern Spain’s most luscious countryside.

This pretty stone-clad cottage has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and can sleep up to seven guests. The house looks down on the beautiful lake of Zahara and faces the medieval hilltop town of Zahara de la Sierra.

With terracotta tiles underfoot, wooden slack beams overhead and a myriad of rustic features in between, Casa Irene’s interior crafts a true traditional Andalusia vibe. As traditional as the cottage might be, Casa Irene is fitted out with many mod-cons, including Wi-Fi, a dishwasher and a microwave.

Outside is geared towards drinking up the breath-taking panoramic views.  A private gated swimming pool is perfectly located for guests to swim as they look out towards the pine-clad hills and down towards the serene watersof Lake Zahara.

The fact the pool is gated and enclosed by pretty stone walls might be favourable to families travelling with young children.

Augmenting the villa’s quirky exterior are attractive terraces including a covered terrace with a built-in barbecue. From this terrace, the vistas really are unrivalled, an incredible spot to eat, drink and relax and soak in untouched Spanish countryside at its most compelling.

El Gastor is just 2.4 kilometres from Casa Irene. This pretty, whitewashed village is known locally as the ‘balcony of white villages’ and is perfectly located to explore the other villages on this renowned ‘white village route.’

El Gastor has a handful of shops and quality restaurants and having escaped the clutches of mass tourism is the ideal place to become immersed in traditional Andalusia life.

Perhaps the most famous of these stunning whitewashed ‘pueblos’ – villages – is Ronda, which is just 20 minutes from El Gastor and sits on the edge of the breath-taking Grazelan National Park.

For more information, to view photos and to check availability to stay at El Gastor, visit the website at: https://www.vintagetravel.co.uk/villa_details.cfm?p_id=2346