Green Postcards: Solar-powered villas in Southern Spain, Part 2

April 08, 2008

Solar-powered villas in Southern Spain, Part 2

For more on Finca Al-Manzil's environmental practices, visit yesterday's post.

Finca Al-Manil
Sierra de Montanchez, Extremadura, Spain
Phone: 0034 670743296 or 0034 678447876
E-mail: finca_al_manzil AT yahoo.com

Finca Al-Manzil has two villas available, each with views of the olive groves. The Cortijo has three bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms. There’s a fireplace in the sitting room, a full kitchen, and a patio. You can rent a single room in The Cortijo or the whole villa. The one bedroom, one bathroom Barn is on its own two acres. It also has a kitchen, dining area, and a terrace for dining al fresco. Both villas have access to Finca Al-Manzil’s pool and miles of hiking trails.

“Turismo Rural” Bed & Breakfast package: Stay in a double room in the Cortijo with a local-food breakfast every morning. (Two night minimum.) Dinner can also be arranged for $31 per person. $102 per night.

The Cortijo weekly rental: $2505 for The Cortijo. (With six guests, that’s about $60 per person, per night.)

Splurge Option: Rent the secluded Barn for $172 per night (four night minimum) or $1096 per week.

While you’re there, what shouldn’t you miss? “The view from Montanchez castle and the Visigoth temple at Alcuesar,” says Finca Al-Manzil’s owner, Pippa Sharman. Pippa can direct you to the ancient pathways that criss-cross their property. They work on maintaining these historic routes as well as helping repair sections of Via de la Plate, the pilgrimage route between Seville and Santiago de Compostella, that run through Extremadura. Make sure you take advantage of all their hard work by doing some hiking while you’re there. In 2009, Pippa says they’ll be starting Tai Chi and Chi Quong programs in addition to organized cycling, riding, and walking tours – good news if you’ll need a year to save up the cash for the airfare to Spain (I will).

In the meantime, you can still get in the Finca Al-Manzil mood. Pippa says the property makes her think of the poetry of the 19th century Romantics and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A (K. 622). Pick up a portable compilation, load your ipod, and you’ll be there in no time.