Tom Powell
WE have all fantasised about it… rolling out of bed in the morning and peeling back the curtains to reveal the sun rising over the most stunning view in the world.
For some it’s the rural romance of rolling green hills, forests, lakes and mountains; for others, a nautical sea view floats their boat; others still prefer an urban vista and a balcony from which to ogle the passing scene.
Whatever fulfills your fantasy, the formula remains the same. Wonderful location usually equals wonderful view which hopefully equals best possible start to the day!
Andalucia, with its legendary coastline, natural parks, soaring mountain ranges and picture-postcard pueblos, offers the full whammy.
Beautiful
Take, for example, a town house perched like an eagle at the very top of Ojen, eyeing up the whitewashed village beneath it, with glimpses across the countryside to Marbella and the coast.
This year, Ojen was voted one of the top 50 places to live in the world by the Sunday Times, and this refurbished four-bedroom home with private pool and garage is one of the best the beautiful village has to offer.
Available for €349,995 through Property Overseas Group, the terraces have been transformed into a party zone with a pool, Jacuzzi, dining table and luxurious furniture.
Then there are the exclusive-to-the-extreme urbanisations of La Zagaleta and its near neighbour, El Madronal.
With their foundations in the foothills of the Serrania de Ronda, they combine sea views with rocky mountain highs and proximity to Marbella is a bonus.
In El Madronal, Private Office Marbella has a dynamic new house for sale, built in 2011 and with seascapes to die for. The heated saltwater pool is another of the many ‘unique selling points’ suggested by the €3.95 million price tag.
The same agent is also marketing a phenomenal €6.75 million property in La Zagaleta, which can also be rented for €36,000 per week, set in what is arguably the most privileged residential area in Europe… How could the alleged chosen holiday home of Russian president Vladimir Putin not be!
Breathtaking views over the Med to the Moroccan coast, two golf courses, a swanky clubhouse, 24-hour security and, of course, the cachet of its name make La Zagaleta an address that’s a cut above the rest
Close by, also on the San Pedro-to-Ronda road, the colourful pueblo-style enclave of La Heredia overlooks golf courses, the Mediterranean and Marbella’s iconic La Concha mountain.
Propertiespain.com has a stunning, spacious penthouse here, on offer for €1.1 million. The panoramic views are complemented by a large terrace, community pool and many other resort amenities.
But the best views aren’t always found in the most expensive areas.
Thousands have followed in legendary expat author Chris Stewart’s footsteps and bought up a rural Andalucian cortijo or finca to try their own hand at ‘Driving over Lemons’.
Just 20 minutes away from the coast, a completely different Spain reveals itself. The wild and wonderful countryside, forests and mountains are the perfect place to hide away.
Why not consider buying somewhere like Ronda or Gaucin where you combine the very idea of ‘real Spain’ with an under-an-hour drive to plenty of decent beaches?
Villas and Fincas in Casares is offering a range of such villas for sale.
One, at €1.495 million, is situated on the hillside of Gaucin. Although just 25 minutes drive from the coastline and the beaches, it feels like a world away, surrounded by rocky peaks and circling vultures.
Another, at the more affordable end of the market, is a charming country house in Casares, which costs €299,000. Sitting on a manageable plot just outside the village, the views stretch far and wide. Bliss.
