Spain is a fascinating contrast of ancient tradition and cutting-edge progress. The country’s renewable energy, transportation, healthcare, aerospace and various other industries are at the forefront of innovation. Yet beneath this lie rich cultural traditions, beliefs and gastronomy that date back centuries. This mix of the old and the new is one of many elements of Spanish life that visitors find so charming, according to leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España. “In so many areas of Spanish life, the country has such a rich tapestry of the old and the new to offer. We see this with Spanish architecture, with the country’s cuisine, with leisure pursuits… there is a strong desire to showcase the very best of the past while also delivering something outstandingly modern for the future.” Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España |
Taylor Wimpey España’s newly launched development, Almazara Boutique Residences, encompasses precisely this combination of the best of the past and the best of the future. The plot the development occupies was home to a dilapidated house with an ancient oil mill, orchard and fruit trees. Rather than levelling the ground and starting again, the Taylor Wimpey España team has designed the new homes, which consist of apartments at Almazara Hills and townhouses at Almazara Views, to include as many of the ancient features as possible. Surrounded by hundred-year-old trees and overlooking the La Concepción reservoir, as well as providing panoramic views of Marbella Bay and Gibraltar, the homes at Almazara Boutique Residences feature a sympathetic rustic appearance that blends beautifully into the natural surroundings. At the entrance to the development, in pride of place, is the ancient almazara (‘oil mill’), which was used to produce olive oil – one of the many things for which the Andalusia region is so well known around the world. |
The site location also straddles the best of the old and the new. Almazara Boutique Residences sits on the slopes of La Concha, between Marbella and Istán. It is just 10 minutes’ drive from the very modern Spanish experience that Marbella and Puerto Banús deliver. International schools, the Manolo Santana Tennis Club, superb golf courses, shopping and leisure centres in Nueva Andalucia and the stunning beaches along Marbella’s Golden Mile are all within easy reach. Then there is Istán. One of the access points to the beautiful Sierra de las Nieves natural park, Istán is a centuries-old village at the head of the Rio Verde valley. Its fountains are fed by pure mountain water, which visitors catch in jugs as it cascades down the rocks outside the village. The narrow streets of the Moorish village were designed for mules and packhorses, meaning that motorists need to leave their vehicles behind and explore on foot. |
In addition to a couple of restaurants and outstanding tapas bars, Istán is home to a 15th century Arab tower surrounded by gardens, the 16th century Church of San Miguel and an old wash house surrounded by houses covered with climbing bougainvillaea and roses. Down by the reservoir, the absence of motorboats and jet skis means that picnickers can enjoy the sounds of nature as they attempt to spot Marbella’s extremely rare otters. The experience offers a serenity that counterbalances the bright modernity of life in Puerto Banús perfectly. “We’ve been excited about revealing Almazara Boutique Residences. A lot of thought has gone into how to blend traditional, rustic design with the lifestyle and accommodation preferences of modern families. The apartments and penthouses of Almazara Hills and the townhouses of Almazara Views fit beautifully into the natural surroundings and the traditional architecture and materials of the local area, while also delivering contemporary interiors and on-site amenities such as pools and landscaped gardens.” Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España |
Apartments at Almazara Hills are priced from €350,000 plus VAT, while townhouses at Almazara Views start from €530,000 plus VAT. For more information, please contact Taylor Wimpey España on 08000 121 020 or visit https://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK, you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972. |
