The "Cortijo El Membrillo" is a traditional Andalucian farmhouse ("cortijo") built in the past century, and picturesquely set among the rolling, wooden hills and wheat fields of the southernmost part of Spain, just five miles from the historical fortified town of Arcos de la Frontera - one of Andalucia's loveliest sites... and five miles from Grazalema Natural Park. The house itself is redolent with old-world charm and elegance, with its lofty ceilings, tall arched windows with heavy wooden shutters to keep out the heat on long summer afternoons, tiled floors, whitewashed walls, and - of course - great central "patio" or cobbled courtyard...
This is indeed a privileged spot to discover one of Spain's most fascinating regions: Andalucia. In a short afternoon's drive you can discover ancient hilltop towns surrounded with bristling ramparts and crowned with Moorish castles and ornate churches... Seville itself, with the Alcazar one of the beautifull buildings in the world, with the breathtaking Giralda - now the bell-tower of one of the world's largest(third) Gothic cathedrals, once the minaret of the Great Mosque built by the Moors - as well as the winding streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, is less than an hour away by an excellent road. You can stop for wine (Sherry of course) and "tapas" in the region's famous "white villages" (los pueblos blancos), scattered among the forested mountains, and drive down to the bustling port of Cadiz or the glamorous Costa del Sol to swim in the Mediterranean. In the vicinity you can find lakes, rivers and pools for bathing, biking, golf courses, mountain trails for hiking and horse back riding.

If you just like lying around day-dreaming and reading, you are welcome to browse through my excellent library of over 4,000 books and magazines (english and spanish), or just sit out on the porch watching the hills change colour as the sun goes down, as you sip a glass of pale yellow, dry Sherry - and munch on a giant, juicy olive...
Andalusia's spanking new road system allows you to travel to Cordoba in less than one and half hours, and to Malaga and Granada in less than two. In just one afternoon you can visit, in a leisurely drive from Cortijo El Membrillo: the spectacular town of Ronda, set on the brink of a mighty gorge and boasting Spain's oldest bullring; Vejez de la Frontera, Andalucia's "white town" par excellence; aristocratic Jerez de la Frontera with its wine cellars and vineyards ("sherry" is simply the English word for "jerez"), the Doņana Nature Park with its fascinating bird life, the picturesque mountain village of Grazalema, or the sandy beaches and surf of the Costa de la Luz.
The hacienda has been set up as a self-catering villa, fully equipped with a modern kitchen, dishwasher, double-door refrigerator and washing machine. There is a total of four bedrooms sleeping up to nine people, and four full bathrooms. All linen, blankets and towels are provided. The large air-conditioned lounge/dining room has a television with parabolic dish receiving over hundreds of stations including CNN, Eurosport, TNT, Cartoon Network and Sky News, fireplace, and a dining suite for twelve people. Outside there is a private courtyard, patio with deck chairs, barbecue and a dining table under the lemon tree. If desired, maid and baby-sitter service is available at hourly rates. I'll be on hand myself to greet you upon arrival and show you around. And just to prove how sure I am that you'll be enchanted by "Cortijo El Membrillo", I promise to refund every penny you've entrusted to me if all is not to your entire satisfaction!

So there it is. If you need a holiday away from the madding crowds and the pollution and chaos of the coast and if tranquility, panoramic views, natural scenery, and a piece of traditional Andalucia is for you, come stay at "El Membrillo".
And now, for your convenience, you can rent it in your own currency without exchange.