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Andalusian farmhouse apartments in a tranquil and peaceful location only one hour from Malaga. |
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Self catering holiday apartments in a restored rural farmhouse in the Axarquia region East of Malaga.
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The finca Finca La Maroma is an old andalusian farmhouse, rebuilt and extended in 1999. The main house of the finca occupies a quiet spot by the side of a private lane with no passing traffic 5kms from the quiet beautiful village of Sedella. The small ridge on which the finca is perched has an elevation of some 420m and is overlooked by La Maroma, at 2.069m the highest peak in the Sierra Tejeda mountain range. From the finca there are spectacular panoramic views towards the Sierra Tejeda-Almijara and the surrounding hills of the Axarquia. |
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The holiday apartments | |||||
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In the main house of the finca there are six self-catering apartments for two people each. A cot is available and can be booked in connection with some of the apartments and one of the apartments has an additional sofa bed (1,40m x 2,00m when extended). All the apartments are comfortable and welcoming and the bathrooms are equipped with showers, hair dryers and electric heaters. All linen including towels is provided and replaced once a week and there are different duvets for summer and winter. We would only ask you to bring your own beach towels if you are planning any trips to one the beaches in the area. There are stereos with CD players in the apartments. |
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The kitchens are well equipped with four-burner hobs, double sinks, fridges with freezer compartments, toasters, coffee makers, kettles and all the utensils and crockery you will need. To make your stay at the finca as comfortable as possible, we provide you on arrival with a starter pack of groceries. In addition we have a small on-site shop for our guests. Please click here for a list of items we normally stock and details of the welcome pack. At the shop there are also a washing machine which you are welcome to use, some board games and a selection of books you may borrow. We live at the finca and are usually around to help you with any information you need, to change your gas bottles when necessary and just generally ensure your holiday is as enjoyable as possible. | |||||
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All but one of the apartments are now equipped with wall mounted fully enclosed gas convector heaters for the cooler times of the year. Mostly these are only needed in the evenings and mornings, rarely during the day. The gas for these and for cooking and hot water as well as the electricity used are included in the rent. All the apartments at the finca have their own terrace with a table, chairs and a parasol. In addition there is a communal terrace by the side of the pool with more tables and chairs as well as plenty of sun beds. |
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The pool measures 5 x 10 m with a depth of between 1.40 m and 1.70 m and is illuminated at night in summer. It also features a solar heating system, so that it can be used for most of the year but it is always open and cleaned so the braver souls can use it in January as well. Next to the pool, in a separate roofed area, there is a Jacuzzi which also may be used at any time. It is a special experience to lounge in the Jacuzzi in January when the almond trees are blossoming. During the cooler times of the year a sauna is available for use at no extra charge. |
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The Sierra Tejeda-Almijara which provides the backdrop for the finca is a nature reserve with an abundance of wild plants and animal life. Here at the finca there is virtually no passing traffic apart from the odd mule or herd of goats since we are close to the end of a small private track which is only used by us and our neighbours. The land around the house slopes steeply in most places and is dotted with almond, olive and carob trees as well as with some vineyards and the odd holm oak. Mules are still widely used to plough the land and to carry the harvest back to the farmhouses. The Muscatel grapes which grow on these slopes are dried for raisins, which are much sought after in all of Spain, or are turned into the strong and sweet "Vino de Terreno" or "Malaga wine". Even the South side of La Maroma, the side facing the finca, is occasionally snow capped in winter and spring but due to the mild climate the snow rarely lasts more than a few days. Due to the protection of La Maroma we enjoy broadly the same mild climate as places on the coast with little rain (320 days of sunshine per year), pleasant winter temperatures, mostly clear starry nights but with less humidity than in the coastal regions. The land which belongs to the finca extends right down to the bottom of the hill where a brook carries water in winter and spring on those rare occassions when there has been rain. For many months each year in winter and spring the hillside is a riot of colours and scents, thanks to the profusion of wild flowers and herbs. Lavender, thyme, rosemary, poppies, wild orchids, corn-flowers and many more flowers grow on these slopes and in January the hillside opposite the finca is covered in pink and white clouds of fragrant almond blossoms. We have laid out a path so that one can walk down the hill and we have placed a few benches under trees for you to sit and soak up the fragrances of the land and the many songs of nature. A short walk down this path from the house you will find a small house with a timber floored room of some 4 x 8 m. This is our meditation cottage, in which our guests are invited to practice any meditation, quiet contemplation, Yoga, Tai-Chi or similar, either on their own or in the company of other guests. Whenever there is demand we also offer introductions to some of Osho`s meditations. |
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The finca is a quiet rural retreat, only a short drive from Velez-Malaga (30 minutes), yet deep in the heart of the Andalucian countryside. The numerous winding tracks in the area are ideal for short strolls to longer walks of several hours and due to the nature of the terrain the vistas on these walks are constantly changing. When walking through ancient olive and lemon groves on old mule tracks which link traditional white villages the only people you are likely to meet are the occasional goat herder or farmer tending his vines. The nearby Sierra de Tejeda and Almijara, too is ideal for everything from a short walk to a full day's mountain hike. From the paths up in the sierra there are stunning views, towards the Sierra Nevada in the East, towards Malaga in the West, far into the fertile plain in the province of Granada which spreads below the mountains in the North and out over the Mediterranean towards Africa, where on a clear day you will be able to glimpse the Atlas mountains. There are several paths which lead up to the summit of La Maroma. One of these starts in the nearby village of Canillas de Aceituno, another one not far from the finca close to Sedella. In either case the ascent will take approximately 4 hours. Although little information on walking in the Sierra de Tejeda is published in Northern Europe we have locally published details (in English) of numerous walks both in the immediate and wider area. We also stock the military map (1:50.000) of the area. Ian Brown of Foothills walking shop in Sheffield, England (see link at the bottom of the page) has spent many weeks at Finca La Maroma and will gladly offer advice on the area. If you have any questions on walks in the area, the equipment you need, where to buy maps and guides, when to walk etc. please contact him at hovis@foothills.co.uk or ring during normal shop hours 00 44 114 258 6228. |
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Sedella, nestles in one of the folds of La Maroma at an altitude of almost 700m is a beautiful and charming village with the usual narrow meandering lanes of the "white villages" which betray the Moorish origins. It has around 500 inhabitants and there are several bars and restaurants, a pharmacy, a couple of small shops and an olive mill. A little bit further away, 10kms, you will find Canillas de Aceituno, a larger village with more than 1,000 inhabitants and more bars, restaurants and shops. Our guests frequently walk into Sedella (75minutes) and occasionally into Canillas de Aceituno (two hours), both pleasant walks with frequently changing vistas. Vélez-Málaga, the capital of the Axarquia region and a busy market town with an interesting old quarter, ancient churches, monasteries and a ruined fortress but with virtually no tourism, is half an hour away by car, the coast at Torre del Mar or Caleta de Velez five minutes further. Less than one hour takes you into the old part of Málaga with Picasso`s birth house and the Picasso museum, the beautifully restored Alcazaba, the Cathedral with its lone tower and the Castillo Gibralfaro or alternatively to Alhama de Granada. It takes a little longer to reach Antequera (The stunning rock formations of the Torcal), Granada (The Alhambra), Cordoba (The mezquita) or the Sierra Nevada. |
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There are a couple of mountain bikes you can hire and we offer airport transfers for the guests who would rather not drive themselves. The charge for the transfer is €50 between 8:00 and 22:00 and €70 at other times. If you would like to explore the larger area, and there are many places worth a visit, we would recommend that you hire a car though. We can arrange this through our partners at Rentacarolé. Click here for details of the car hire. You can book Ayurveda massages for relaxation and well-being through us which you can enjoy in the meditation cottage The apartments are available all year round. Minimum stay is two to five days, depending on the time of year. Please enquire. |
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The weather in the area |
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The place for all your outdoor requirements |
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