Caractéristiques
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Villa
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3 chambres
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6 couchages
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2 salles de bain
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130 m² de superficie
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30 m² de terrasse
Divers
Location.
La Rijana is an all year round location, ideal for sea, sierra, ski and city.
The fascinating city of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold, with the fabulous Alhambra and Sierra Nevada skiing, is just an hour away. Granada and Malaga airports are also about an hour away .
Our 2-storey house, has 3 sea-view bedrooms, 1 double and 2 twin, and it overlooks the communal pool.
La Rijana sits on top of a headland, just below an ancient Moorish tower, in a quiet, residential, exclusive area of Almunecar, known as Los Pinos, (The Pines). It looks out over the sea and from the windows and terrace, you can watch sunrise and sunset, follow the fishing boats and at certain times of year, spot dolphins just off the coast.
Almunecar is the principal town on a part of the southern coast of Andalucia, known as the Costa Tropical, in the province of Granada. It is characterised by rugged cliffs falling to the sea and a sub-tropical climate that encourages the growth of tropical fruits.
La Rijana
La Rijana, a small community of 14 family houses, is entered through a remote controlled gate. The house is suitable for quiet couples and families but not for groups of partygoers. All guests must agree to abide by the rules of the residential community.
The House
Our house at the end of a row, overlooks the pool and has breathtaking views along the coastline and across the is a 2-storey house with 3 sea-view bedrooms, 1 double and 2 twin (one with pull-out bed, to offer greater space if the house is being occupied by less than 6).
The large lounge-diner has 2 leather sofas, glass coffee table, a large dining table, TV with UK freeview, DVD and Hi-Fi and internet.
The kitchen, has granite work-surfaces, ceramic hob with halogen, stainless steel combination-microwave oven, washing machine and large fridge-freezer. There is ample ceramic crockery and glassware for indoor use and plastic equivalent for terrace or pool-side.
There are 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite) with shower, basin and bidet.
The house is tiled throughout with rustic-style terracotta floor tiles. It is double-glazed, has external window blinds on the upper floor, and is equipped with AC and heating on the lower floor. There is an external patio canopy and blind and internal downstairs blinds.
Patio doors open onto a terrace with teak furniture, which stretches over 2 sides, giving superb sea and pool views.
The house is equipped with intercom for the main gate, and a bell for the house gate. A garage is kept for our own private use but parking space is available outside the house.
Places of Interest.
Although Almuñecar at first sight just looks like a busy holiday town, it has the heart of an old Andalucian pueblo with narrow cobbled streets. The old town is full of tapas bars, bodegas and restaurants and interesting little shops of all kinds.
The town market sells fresh fish, meat and vegetables and the Friday outdoor market has clothes, shoes and local products.
Attractions include a Roman fish-salting factory, botanical gardens (jazz festival in July), bird park, castle, museum and a water park.
Out of town you can travel up Almuñecars tropical valley to the mountains. A visit to the beautiful lake at Bermejeles and the old Moorish town of Alhama de Granada, with hot springs, is well worth doing and if you want a shopping and cinema experience, you can call at El Ingenio shopping centre, with 12 screen cinema complex, trendy snack bars, shops and a huge hypermarket, on the way back. There is also a 1st class golf course here.
Riding is available just outside Almunecar.
A little east of Almuñecar, lies Salobreña, the old part of which is built on an outcrop of rock and topped by an impressive castle. Beyond this is the interesting Spanish town of Motril, with Los Moriscos golf course next to the sea.
Heading north from Motril you will find Granada, just an hour from Almunecar. This was the last capital of the Moorish kings and is well worth a visit, for the marvellous Alhambra Palace many other places of interest.
In winter there is good skiing to be had in the Sierra Nevada.
South of the Sierra Nevada are the Alpujarras, (Driving Over Lemons fame), a series of foothills with steep valleys and ancient villages, some with cave houses.
To the west of Almunecar is Marina del Este, an exclusive marina with smart restaurants, lovely boats to look at and the opportunity for scuba. Beyond this, the delightful sea-side town of Herradura, famous for its watersports. Between here and Nerja are many beautiful beaches backed by cliffs. Nerja itself is a popular resort for British holiday-makers, with a good beach (Burriana) and fantastic caves (International festival, featuring ballet, opera, flamenco in July).
Still further west, is the whitewashed village of Torrox Pueblo (inland) and Torrox Costa, the latter with a very pleasant promenade lined with restaurants.
History of the Area
Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Bronze-Age man made his home in the surrounding areas, but it was not until 3000 yrs ago that the modern history of Almuñecar began, when it was inhabited by the Phoenicians. Subsequently the Romans and Moors ruled. Under the occupation of the Arabs, this important town was known as "Al-Munakkabï"(fortified town), or "Hins-al Monacar" (flanked by hills). Evidence of the Romans can be seen in the fish factory and aqueduct.
The Roman hilltop fortifications were rebuilt and expanded into a formidable Moorish castle. At the same time, Arabs introduced sugar cane, pomegranate, citrus, fig and the silk industry.
Beaches
The region offers a huge variety of beaches and coves where opportunities exist for diving, windsurfing, paragliding, jet-ski, scuba, snorkelling, fishing, pedalo, nudism or simply sunbathing and swimming.
Many beaches and towns tend to be busy during the Spanish holiday season (August), and parking can be difficult.
You might note the following beaches, (from east to west):
-Playa de Cabria: Small, popular beach, food, can walk around cove to a smaller headland.
-Calida Bajia: My favourite, with 2 bays backed by oleander and pine hillside with peergola-viewing/sitting points. A pleasant, rather up-market bar/restaurant just above the beach.
-Playa el Pozuelo: Small beach with shade provided by eucalyptus. Food available.
-Playa el Tesorillo: (Tesorillo means Little Treasure). Sandy inlet bordered by rocks. Bars.
-Playa Velilla: 2km sand and shingle, restaurants, shops water-sports.
-Playa Puerta del Mar: Main beach of, running from the aquapark to San Cristóbal.
-Playa San Cristóbal: Long beach with wide promenade. Beach-bars, restaurants, water-sports, fishing fleet.
-Playa de Cotobro: Small sand and shingle beach just round the headland. Restaurant. Can walk round the rocks to next beach.
-Playa del Muerto: Nudist bathing area. Secluded shingle and rock coves.
-Playa de Berengueles: Small sandy beach beside Marina Del Este (an exclusive boat harbour, similar to Puerto Banus), from which diving can be organised. Bars/restaurants.
-Playa de la Herradura: "Herradura" means horseshoe and this sandy beach runs for 2k fronting the town of the same name. It is never really crowded and there are opportunities to park on the beach. Restaurants.
Further west, lie numerous beaches down steep cliffs, mostly accessible by foot only:
-Playa de Cantarrij (nudist,restaurant), Playa Canuelo, (K302, mini-bus down to beach � June-Sept,. restaurant) , Playa Alberquilla, Playa de Molino de Papel, Valle los Pinos, etc
Fairs, Fiestas and Festivals.
These occur throughout the year and you can find out about them from the local tourist office or by visiting the ALMUNECAR WEBSITE. 23-29th May is Granadas main fiesta, with food, drinking and dancing in the streets. 24th June, the feast of San Juan, falls on Midsummer Night. In July, is the mariners Fiesta del Virgin del Carmen on the sea front and the superb International Jazz Festival in the botanical gardens. A little later th