Esperanza 9 was originally the village blacksmith, and latterly a garage where the owner shelled his almonds. Now, it has been reformed into a stylish and unique home that draws inspiration from the traditional elements of Moorish and Andalucian architecture. Water and light played central roles in the design of the property, and the interiors connect seamlessly with the exterior space. Cool in the summer and cosy in the winter, this is a property for all seasons. The house has two large bedrooms, both with super-king double beds and bathrooms. The pool is private and there is a large roof terrace with great views, a barbecue, sun-loungers and bean-bags.

I and my husband Andrew bought and restored a village house in the historic village of Moclín, near Granada in Andalucia. We have since bought and restored another village house, Esperanza 9, which is a self-catering private home with pool. We are both creative people, and love the culture, history, art, music and landscapes of southern Spain. We look forward to sharing it all with you. We live in the village, so will be on hand should guests need anything. If we are away for any reason, our neighbours will be available to deal with any issues.

The beautiful village of Moclín is one of Granada Province’s hidden gems. At an altitude of 1,000 metres above sea level, the village tumbles down the hill that is dominated by the 13th Century Moclín Castle. From the time it was built by the Moors, Moclín Castle was considered to be impregnable and was under almost constant siege for 200 years. It was eventually captured by Los Reyes Catolicos (Isabel and Fernando) in 1486 and the Royal Court was based here for the following 6 years until the Christian King and Queen eventually captured the city of Granada in 1492. The village is host to one of the most important religious festivals in Andalucia. On 5th October every year, Las Fiestas en Honor del Santísimo Cristo del Paño attracts as many as 30,000 people who descend on the village to pay respects to a painting of Christ and the Cross, given to the village by Queen Isabel as a gift following her conquest of Granada. This important festival was referred to by Granada’s most famous writer, Federico Garcia Lorca in his play, ‘Yerma’. There are many walking routes in the surrounding countryside, including La Ruta del Gollizno, a beautiful circular route through a gorge that attracts many Spanish people each weekend. There is also a collection of caves in the area, most of which date back 5,000 - 7,000 years; one of these cave complexes has revealed signs of habitation from as long ago as 23,000 years. The village has three bars, a small shop, a pharmacy and regular bus service to and from Granada.