A mixture of exotic and traditional, grandeur and informality, this Andalusian escape offers up something to delight the eye at every turn, from an abundant garden planted with cypresses, olive trees, palms and lemon groves, to antique-laden, cossetting rooms filled with books, deep sofas and armchairs.
Described as ‘a tropical country farm’ by its late owner, renowned Spanish designer Jaime Parladé, Alcuzcuz is a unique nineteenth century home-turned-guest house that effortlessly blends collected pieces with family treasures, artwork with personal mementoes and colourful textiles with classic dark wood furniture. High above San Pedro de Alcántara, in the foothills leading to Ronda, this Andalusian gem, now run by Parladé’s nephew, looks as though it has unfurled over generations, despite having been largely re-worked in the 1950s and comprehensively renovated only a few years ago.
With lush gardens and courtyards, plus terracotta-pink façades contrasted with eau-de-nil accents, Alcuzcuz also provides a million and one deeply photogenic opportunities. It’s here, among the building’s many shady terraces, dense groves and wisteria-laden pergolas, that Studio Beleta recently shot its first collection of textiles. Inspired by the soft colours and the gentle contours found in nature and Mediterranean architecture, our indoor-outdoor cushion collection is perfectly at home among the estate’s informally planted gardens and playfully silhouetted outhouses. Defined by their pastel tones, understated frills and resilient finish, the cushions are just as suited to al fresco summer dining as they are to enlivening an elegant interiors scheme.
Alcuzcuz is made for languid summer afternoons, long lunches, dips in the pool and sun dappled strolls – and far from the crowd, with uninterrupted vistas over the surrounding hills and coast, it’s all one of our all-time favourite secret addresses.
alcuzcuz.es.
