At present there are three regions of the Spanish mainland where we feature villas – Catalonia, including Cadaques on the Costa Brava and Sitges to the south of Barcelona; Extremadura, an historically fascinating area south-west of Madrid; and Andalucia, to the south of Granada.

Catalonia, in the north east of Spain extends from the French border and the Pyrenees, to Tarragona, south of Barcelona. It is a richly varied, autonomous region of Spain, famous for its cuisine, its art and architecture as well as its beautiful coastline and scenery.

One of our villas in Catalonia is situated just 10 minutes drive inland from the popular resort town of Sitges with its lively nightlife, restaurants and bars, and choice of beautiful beaches. Barcelona is only 30 minutes drive away. Our other villa is located on the Costa Brava at Port Lligat, Cadaques, home of Salvador Dali and in the neighbouring bay to El Bulli – voted the Best Restaurant in the World. The villa is situated in the Cap de Creus National Park, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty- great for exploring by boat or by foot.

Trujillo, an important Spanish 13th century medieval town of great architectural and historical importance, is situated in the heart of the Extremadura, 250 kms to the south-west of Madrid.

Set above the main Plaza Mayor and the town centre is the Medieval part of Trujillo, known as the ‘Villa’ (a Roman town encompassed by a fortified wall), and dominated by a large castle. Full of atmosphere, its narrow, cobbled streets wind past 16th century houses and palaces and semi-fortified towers. This also is the setting for the house we have to rent in Trujillo, a short walk from the historic sights, as well as the centre of town with its excellent bars, restaurants and shops, and Thursday morning market offering food, pottery, clothes and jewellery. The easiest way to reach Trujillo is by flight to Madrid, then by car for 2 ½ hours.

One of our properties in Andalucia is situated in the hills between Granada and the coast, known as the Costa Tropical. The beaches at Almunécar and La Herradura offer windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing and scuba diving. Horseriding, trekking, mountain bike and parapenting take place in the surrounding hills, while one of Spain’s best winter ski resorts, Solynieve, can be found in the Sierra Nevada. There is also an excellent 18-hole golf course just outside Granada. Granada is a magical city with a wealth of history and monuments, including the Alhambra Palace. Another property is overlooking the magnificent bay of La Herradura, just a few minutes drive from the towns of La Herradura and Almunecar. The coastline between Nerja and Almeria is mountainous with lots of small coves and beaches, some deserted and some with small beach bars serving delicious fresh fish. There are three golf courses with a half hour drive, and an abundance of restaurants in the area. The local market town of Almunecar is worth a visit for its Moorish castle, botanical gardens and Roman monuments. To the east lies Salobrena, a picturesque white village with an impressive Arab fortress and, 15 kms to the west is Nerja, home to one of the largest cave systems in Europe and some of the tallest stalactic pillars in the world.

Several properties nearer to Marbella offer the ultimate in luxury, and several have direct beach access.