Romantic, rustic, luxury house with private pool, gardens and stunning views

Finca El Albero, formerly called the Stone House (as it’s built from the local stone) came into our lives as a result of us both visiting a property exhibition in Milton Keynes. We didn’t know at the time that a brochure containing an advertisement of partly reformed property, was eventually to become our new holiday home.

On arrival at Malaga we were met by the agent who showed us a range of new properties before arriving at the Stone House. At first sight we both fell in love with what was a 150 year old cottage, set in over grown and run down, large piece of land.

The next 3 months comprised the purchase and arranging the finishing of the building work and adding a swimming pool. This was both an education and at times an alarming experience. Picking the keys up in August 2001 was a huge delight and with credit cards at the ready, we spent a fortnight kitting out our new home, to be ready for a big family Christmas gathering.

Since 2001 we have continued to add to and improve our home by for example, developing the gardens, with help from my brother, an award winning horticulturist. Adding Home Cinema, Ipod Docs and Wifi too, enabling anyone staying there to keep in touch with civilisation, whilst relaxing.

Finca El Albero is a home, not a holiday home. The fittings and finishes installed are of a high standard, cared for by our housekeepers Mike and Gill. Additionally, the gardens which need equal care and attention are cared for by Bartolme’ our local Spanish “friend” and having got to know him well over the years has invited us to their celebrations including his daughter’s and son’s weddings.

Originally the Stone House and now the Yellow House (Albero is the colour of the sand used in bullrings) our Finca gives us great delight whenever we go and we sincerely hope that those that spend their holidays there, are as equally delighted.

Why do the Spanish leave their old properties to go to ruin? And even if they do redevelop them, typically they would tear down the old and replace with new. Finca El Albero is fairly unique in this respect. We are told it was left abandoned and rat infested for nearly 30 years as the family that owned it, could not agree what to do. That was until a local British builder saw the potential, tracked down the owners and purchased it. Then running out of money he put it up for sale as an unfinished partly reformed Finca.

Preserving as much of the original character as possible, this old house has been transformed from a wreck and a jungle of a garden all brought back to life now with its own orchard, vines, wild flowers, palm trees, flowing bougainvillea, waterfall and cactus gardens.

The Spanish inheritance laws are such that parental properties are left to all the heirs resulting in family struggles over ownership. In a changing Spanish society, where using small holdings for crops is becoming rare the typical option is to try and sell to a developer, if the family can agree or if not, abandon the property.

Finca El Albero we are pleased to say, is a success story and we hope that the transformation is pleasing to all that spend a holiday there.