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suite. It is the only bedroom upstairs, thus enjoying sole use of the spiral staircase and its circular balcony over the entrance hall. The bathroom is its pièce de résistance, with an enormous round hot tub, mirrored ceilings and marble and gold accents. His and hers dressing areas and a private terrace, looking out over the pool and garden, complete the suite. The outdoor areas are spacious, comprising a large, inviting pool, a dining terrace and an outdoor bar lounge, all lit beautifully at night by extensive external lighting. The pool and its bar area is only a few steps from the house, with three large rooms opening onto the terraces, offering a view of the incredible mountain scenery. The sitting room is the most formal, with a beautiful piano and large fireplace, perfect for cocktails and canapés inside if the weather is cooler. The dining room also has a fireplace, but the eye is drawn to the imposing dark wood dining table, which can seat 12 and, with candles lit at night, the room is opulent yet intimate. For five star R&R, head to the other living room in which most of our party can often be found; one tapping away on a laptop by the fire, another curled up in an armchair with a magazine and two more settled on the window seat for a competitive game of chess. With a fully stocked bar in one corner, this room is ideal for a more informal, laid-back evening and roomy enough to allow everyone their own space. Fantastic dining experiences can be provided without ever having to leave the comfort of the villa. The canapé selection is so more-ishly good – boards of pata negra, cubes of cheese and tiny olive bread twists, all immaculately presented – that I
connoisseur
advise requesting a cap on these to avoid being too full for the meal itself. This is of a restaurant standard: red pepper salad, seafood paella with noodles rather than rice (an excellent alternative) and a lime sorbet/soufflé combination, served in glass tumblers and enlivened with a bright purple hibiscus. Delicious, chilled white wine (Gran VinaSol, Chardonnay 2009) accompanied the paella. If you do wish to explore outside the confines of your safe, luxurious haven, head to Marbella town for traditional Spanish fare and shopping opportunities aplenty. Further afield, explore Puerto Banus, with its luxury yacht-lined port, high-end boutique offering and ‘see and be seen’ cafés, bars and restaurants, as well as the legendary Marbella Club. For those who are keen to fit in some culture, drive 100 kilometres along winding roads through the mountains to the town of Ronda, which is built over the dramatic limestone gorge of the Rio Guadalevin and can lay claim to the oldest bullfighting ring in Andalucía. Three awe-inspiring bridges span the canyon. Puente Nuevo, at 120 metres above the canyon floor, is the tallest and quite astoundingly impressive. Ronda is steeped in wonderful culture, but after a few hours, I find myself imagining a scene of relaxation by the pool in the gardens of our beautiful Mansion. So off we speed back to our home from home, albeit one with a serious dose of luxury. n La Mansion del Baron rental: from £17,000 / week (based on ten people sharing, from £1,700 per person / week) To make a booking please contact Abercrombie & Kent Villas (0845 618 2215 or www.akvillas.com).
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