THE ADDRESS Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 79

Delivering a world of tranquility and serenity, the unique country estate sits on a 30,000m2 plot with a gorgeous landscaped Mediterranean garden. Thousands of colourful flowers add a vibrant touch to the elegant garden. A gracious collection of sculptures is dotted across the estate. A range of materials, such as pieces of iron from a nearby gold mine, chalk and stone, lend the area a sense of magic and sophistication. Agricultural land belonging to the estate sits on the southern hillside of the valley. The 19.4 hectares of private grounds includes a forest of 4,500 palm trees and 1,700 olive trees, many more than 1,000 years old. The olive trees provide oil production for the muchprized Spanish olive oil. Set in the estate’s most rustic locale, a further attraction of the property is its kitchen garden of almost 1,400m2. The garden is divided into the north zone with fruit orchards – fig, lemon, apple, peach, Sharon fruit and pear trees – and a south zone consisting of spices and aromatic plants, fruit and flower vegetables. Minutes to the beach, yet serenely private, the estate is located in the once thriving gold mining town of Rodalquilar. The charming village sits in the heart of Cabo de Gata National Park. The village is rural, yet cosmopolitan, and home to a variety of artists. Its beach, El Playazo, is one of the most beautiful in the park, with perhaps the best snorkelling and diving in all of Southern Spain. The other thing that makes Rodalquilar special is that this is where the headquarters of the natural park is located, with a focus on conserving the precious coastline and its flora and fauna. Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is Andalusia's largest coastal protected area, a wild and pristine landscape containing some of Europe’s most interesting geological features. Its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, granted in 1987, has protected this patch of coastline from the development that has spoilt other parts of Spain. It is stunningly scenic, with long, sandy beaches and hidden coves reachable only on foot or by kayak. Turquoise waters, white and black rock formations, volcanic hills … the landscape evokes Africa combined with Mediterranean coastal and fishing villages. As one of Spain’s rare marine reserves, the area offers superb diving and snorkelling. There are endless stunning walks, with breathtaking vistas of the coast and mountain ranges. Other popular ways to enjoy the scenery are by bicycle, by boat or on horseback. A drivable dirt track winds past the abandoned gold mine of Rodalquilar and into a Wild West landscape, a place where three Clint Eastwood films were shot, and to El Cortijo de los Frailes, the real-life setting of the events of Lorca’s famous play, Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding). In the distance can be seen the snowy peaks that mark the natural border between the coastline and the interior. Rodalquilar is only 30 minutes from Almeria Airport, which offers connections to Spain’s largest cities and worldwide destinations. With the exceptional surrounding of the mountains, the sea and the beautiful countryside of Andalusia, the elite country estate is truly spectacular on every level. Exuding privacy and exclusivity, the extraordinary cortijo is an absolute rarity of true international appeal. Price: €12 million (excluding taxes). CONTACT Signature Residences Worldwide www.signatureresidencesworlde.com +44 (0)20 7095 8703 www.theaddressmagazine.com 79