Joshua Parfitt
IT’S a project that could fill an entire series of Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs.
Because among the second-hand bicycles and used sofas on classified listing site Wallapop, an entire village is up for grabs.
And for €90 million, the 40 houses, theatre, olive press, restaurant, flour mill, post office and church could all be yours.
Declared as a ‘1st class agricultural colony’ on July 1, 1887, La Colonia de Santa Eulalia was designed as a self-sufficient socialist utopia.
A one-time liquor factory and train station catered to 200 workers, who shared resources in a long-lost agricultural co-operative.
The high ideals and stunning hills between Sax and Villena saw the Colonia used a set for popular Valenciano sitcom L’Alqueria Blanca.
But over the years residents abandoned the 275 ha plot, but the historical pedigree of the hamlet has made it hard to forget.
The hamlet has been declared a Bien de Interes Cultural by the Valencian Community in honour of its ‘great historial value’ – meaning its management is the responsibility of the municipality of Sax, and could be open to European Union grants.
“We’ve been negotiating with the owner of the land for three and a half months,” said Sax mayor, Laura Estevan.
“We are looking for options for its protection because it is a heritage of all Sajeños.”
The Colonia de Santa Eulalia is featured on classified listing site Wallapop.
