The house is about 6 kilometres from the hilltop village of Iznajar (pronounced eethnachar with the ‘ch’ as in ‘loch’ and the accent on the second syllable). The town gets its name from the Arabic “Hisn” (castle) and “Ashar” (happy), referring to the Moorish castle which towers picturesquely above it.
Iznajar itself commands views over the surrounding countryside— rolling hills clad with olive groves as far as the eye can see, and the lake –32 kms long and 6 kms wide—almost always a breathtaking blue, as it reflects the clear sky, but spectacular whatever the weather!
The lake provides opportunities for swimming, fishing and sailing.
The highlight of the Iznajar calendar, is La Feria Real (7th-11th September) in honour of the patron saint La Virgen de la Piedad. There is a candlelight procession through the town on the 8th September.
This is a very rural area of Andalucia, where the main industry is the growing of olives, and the production of olive oil.
There are a few bars close by where you can spend a pleasant evening, or lunchtime, eating simple local food, with a bottle of wine, or a beer. The hotel at Iznajar—El Cortijo de Iznajar—serves a slightly wider, more international menu, still based on local produce. The Finca de la Bobadilla, an internationally renowned restaurant is a 15 minute drive away, for that special occasion. A growing list of restaurants our guests have enjoyed, is at the house for reference, and for you to add your favourites.
Casa del Abuelo is well equipped for you to self cater, with a fully equipped kitchen and a gas barbecue. Villanueva de Tapia, 3 kilometres away has shops and a market selling fresh food, as well as bars. And for fresh fruit— you’re welcome to pick what’s in the garden at the time. Larger supermarkets are to be found at Archidona, Rute or Antequera.
The market towns of Loja and Archidona are within a fifteen minute drive. In a little over half an hour you could be in Antequera, a charming old town, commanding spectacular views of El Torcal National park, and across the surrounding plains. Close to Antequera is El Torcal National Park, an area of majestic and fascinating limestone columns and formations, with marked walking trails.
For those with a taste for ancient history, Antequera is home to the most important dolmenic complex in Europe. There is a golf course at the Antequera Golf Hotel.
A short drive to the west takes you to Fuente de Piedra, and its lake, with Spain’s only breeding colony of flamingos, as well as a multitude of other bird life.
The house is in the province of Cordoba, and the city of Cordoba is within easy reach, as is Granada. A little further away, a (about 2 hours drive) is Seville. The Sierra Nevada, with its opportunities for winter sports, are about 1hr 15 minutes drive. |
