Villa Loli is located on the outskirts of Frigiliana, a charming village once voted the most beautiful in all of Andalucía – and with its winding cobblestone streets, pristine whitewashed houses topped with Roman terracotta tiles and healthy flower pots adorning every windowsill, it’s no wonder why! Historic buildings and sites of Muslim and Christian origin are strewn throughout the cobbled streets, evidence of deeply multicultural history. And sitting just on the edge of the Sierra Almijara National Park, the surrounding landscape is sublime: thriving acres of avocado orchards and olive trees are nestled among luscious rolling hills and winding rivers as they slope towards the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea. In the quiet tranquillity, Frigiliana still manages to offer an array of restaurants, services and shops for those who prefer to travel on foot.
In the nearby town of Nerja, just a ten-minute drive away, you can enjoy fiestas and concerts, learn flamenco dancing or pick up some of the local wares at one of the many markets or boutique shops. Malaga, the nearest city at less than an hour away, is the largest city on the Costa del Sol and historically and culturally incredibly rich, putting ever more activities and amenities at your fingertips. As the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the city is, of course, brimming with museums and art galleries, set among a beautiful cityscape of castles, cathedrals and theatres.
The Costa del Sol itself is largely peaceful and quiet, as although there is a large amount of tourism, largely for the fantastic beaches and warm climate (the average water temperature year-round is 18°C!), the tourists tend to stick to the much more developed south-western part. The region of Andalucía is a diverse one both culturally and in the landscape, where picturesque beaches, ancient cities and deserts meet the incredible Sierra Nevada mountain range, which includes both the most southerly ski resort in Europe and the highest point of continental Europe!