Property Details

Casa de Josefa is a traditional but spacious Berber style house just below the picturesque church in Capileira. It’s over 150 years old – a traditional Spanish house perched on the side of the mountain. From its roof terrace there are stunning views across the Poqueira valley, up to the high Sierra mountains, snow-covered most of the year, down to the Mediterranean coast. A wonderful base for walkers of all levels, Casa de Josefa nestles in the heart of the friendly local community of Capileira.

The beautifully restored, spacious lounge has traditional chestnut beams supporting the ceiling, with slate flooring and a large open fireplace. Its French windows and balcony overlook the valley. With its sunny aspect, it provides a wonderful setting for mealtimes, and in the evenings a cosy place and comfortable room in which to relax. The room contains some original furniture made by a local craftsman, including a dining table and chairs.

There’s a comfortable sofa, a sofa bed too, and a colour TV is also supplied. A doorway leads into the large kitchen which is well-equipped with fridge and washing machine. There are plenty of cooking implements and – a rarity in Spanish homes – a teapot and kettle! An iron, ironing board and clothes rack are also provided.

Leading off from the kitchen there is a study, equipped with a desk and a divan. The quaint bathroom (with shower) completes the rooms on the first floor.

Stairs lead down from the study to the large main bedroom with double bed. This room looks out over the valley. The second bedroom, which also contains a double bed, has access to the lane at the side of the house. Both rooms provide a cool sanctuary during the hot summer months – though at one time they provided shelter for the animals of the household!

From the lounge, stairs lead up to the roof terrace which provides a wonderful place to breakfast or to sit in the evening, when the sun is cooler. In the summer you can sit out into the early hours of the morning watching the Milky Way and (in August) the shooting stars. There are stunning views across the valley, where you can see farmers threshing the wheat as they have done for hundreds of years. Chairs, a table and a parasol are provided.

More details on clun2capileira.co.uk

Local Area Details

Walks start right from the front of Casa de Josefa. The path through the village leads to two bridges over the river Poqueira – Abuchite and Chiscu. Both bridges offer pools in the river to bathe (often in private if you’re prepared to scramble down the river – downstream of Chiscu is best for that), as well as lovely walks up onto the other side of the valley that you can see from Casa de Josefa.

Or drive up the road out of Capileira right up past the no through road sign. On a sharp left hand bend near the top you’ll see a track bearing off to the right. Turn off along that track and after one km or so you’ll come to a bridge over a river gorge in a spectacular setting. Two rivers join here. Above the bridge, if you take the slower right hand stream, you can find quite large pools along the way. Below the bridge there is a splendid waterfall. The track, incidentally, can be followed even further, driving right back down to Portugas and Pitres.

For serious walking, you can get easily to the Sierra’s themselves on to the GR walking routes. A quick way is to take the National Park bus right up. They drop you off for four or six hour walks in the high mountains. You can get details from the tourist office on the main road.

Having earned a good meal, Capileira has a number of good restaurants. Eating out is enjoyable and inexpensive. In a week you will have no trouble finding a different place to go to each evening. Close by Casa de Josefa is Ibero, serving northern African food, but in relatively upmarket surroundings. For a more traditional experience, just up the main street is Abuxarra. Very friendly people and lovely Alpujarran food - the best local restaurant we think.

More active holiday pursuits include paragliding and swmimming. Our friend Carlos will give a tandem flight in the Sierra Nevada, flying with the eagles – really! Carlos is a serious and very experienced pilot with a friendly nature who is particularly caring of the local environment.

There are many opportunities for swimming. The drive down to the coast takes just an hour. One lovely beach is Almuneca, at the eastern end is a small bay, which is easy to get to. In May/June the beaches will be quite uncrowded – and even in the peak of summer there is plenty of room on the beaches to enjoy the beautiful clear blue water of the Mediterranean.

If you want to swim nearer the house, there is a large open air pool in Pitres about 15 minutes drive from the house (although it is not normally open until June each year). Pitres is beautiful, with an excellent restaurant by the pool, with grassy banks for lying in the sun and friendly people.

Alternatively, you can walk down the river Poqueira finding secluded places to bathe in the clear, fresh water of the waterfalls and pools.

Twitchers be sure to take a pair of binoculars. The bird life is wonderful – especially the views of eagles above the valley – often seen from our roof or balcony, or above Capileira on the road towards the national park above Capileira, in the mountains. There are also many smaller birds which fly close to the house and terrace, including swifts, swallows and bee-eaters.

Property Features

* Pets are allowed
* Children are allowed

Contact Information

Name:	John Marshall
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