As a leading, well-established tourist destination, Spain has a long held reputation – in some quarters – for over-developed resorts and coastal towns that resemble concrete jungles. Contrast is provided by the unspoiled beauty of the Costa de la Luz, a haven of peace and tranquillity whose golden sandy beaches and warm climate will be a surprise to those whose impressions of Spain are restricted to resorts such as Benidorm and Torremolinos.

In the heart of the province of Cádiz, Medina Sidonia is one of the area’s most attractive villages and is also one of the oldest settlements in Europe, its cobbled streets evoking the medieval era, when this was the seat of the Dukes of Medina-Sidonia.

Despite its peaceful rural location Medina Sidonia is an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area. From its miles of unspoilt beaches, the bodegas and horses of Jerez, the beautiful and elegant buildings of Seville to the quirky charm of Gibraltar, all can be easily accessed from here.

History restored
Located within the walls of Medina Sidonia, Palacete Thebussem is a piece of living history. Lovingly renovated and restored, this impressive building combines bags of character with an unapologetically high-tech finish and the result is extremely appealing.

The house itself dates from around 1850 and is known in Spain as a “señorial” residence, a description that brings to mind its noble past. It was discovered in 2006 by a British couple who fell in love with its considerable charms and set about restoring it to its former glory.

Rather than crudely gutting the interior of the house and retaining little more than the building’s façade, its new owners spent a great deal of time and money on the project, painstakingly uncovering its historical aspects, including a Roman wall which has been imaginatively incorporated in the largest of the apartments and an ancient well, which now takes pride of place in the patio area.

The devotion that has been expended on Palacete Thebussem is evident in every one of the five apartments that have been created on the three floors. Each apartment has a different name, mood and colour scheme: Hidalgo and Musa make up the ground floor, contain two bedrooms and bathrooms and enjoy access to a central Andalucian patio area in addition to the impressive roof terrace with pool and sundeck.

The first floor is home to Tierra and Toro, which also contain two bedrooms and bathrooms, while three-storey Mirador is more a townhouse than an apartment, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and independent access at the back of the palacete. All of the properties include high ceilings, double-glazing, kitchens fitted with high spec fixtures and fittings, and designer bathrooms. Under-floor heating, centralised music systems and alarms reflect the best of contemporary innovation, while Palacete Thebussem’s original timber beams provide a pleasantly warm, historical touch.

Outer beauty
As much attention has been paid to the public areas of this building as it has to the individual residences. The main entrance hall is a light, welcoming space complete with pot plants and seating areas, while the rooftop terrace provides a relaxing recreation space for residents to swim, enjoy the sun or even get together for an evening drink as the sun sets over Medina Sidonia.

It isn’t often that apartments of the quality of those in Palacete Thebussem are offered for sale in coastal Spain, so interest in this striking project has been intense. This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in this increasingly popular corner of Spain.

For more details contact Andalucia Boutique at: Office: +34 956 410 808, Mobile: +34 657 640 591; email: stemarly@aol.com; Web: www.andaluciaboutique.com