Centered within the historic heart of the city, this vacation home rental in Girona spans over five hundred years of history.
Discovered by Girona native and architect Anna Noguera and her husband, the building was somewhat of a puzzle, with evidence of a long evolution of add ons throughout the centuries. The irregular and slightly awkward layout was stripped down to the original stone walls and in the process, Napoleonic munitions, 16th century household items and the walls of a 1st century Roman villa were unearthed. Refashioning the warren of small, maze-like rooms, the building is now a spacious five-bedroom residence (which can be divided into two separate living spaces or rented as a whole).
Adamant about preserving the historic character of the building, Noguera used modern materials such as concrete and dark steel to complement the traditional stone, oak and terra cotta, reinterpreting the old through a dialogue with the new.
The smaller El Jardi apartment has been cleverly designed in an open plan with wide living and dining areas and a slim, slate-grey kitchen concealed behind a screen. Across the hallway are two double bedrooms and one bath. Finished in oak floors, glass, and enormous Corten steel doors, juxtaposed with the original exposed stone walls, the ground floor apartment opens out to a wisteria-shaded garden and courtyard with a black concrete plunge pool redesigned from the original cistern.
El Badiu duplex apartment above encompasses the top two floors and is a spacious, light filled space with a large living room with a double-sided fireplace that opens onto the spectacular south-facing veranda, a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and dining space, and views over the old quarter of Girona down to the garden and plunge pool. There is a large en suite master and two junior suites with room for six guests or ten if the entire house is rented.
Showcasing its graceful history, this modern, minimalist make-over is an elegantly crafted homage to the past.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Wifi throughout, Plasma satellite cable TV with Apple TV and video library, DVD and sound system with iPhone docking, music library and CD player, laundry facilities. Firewood for the fireplace provided. Optional additional services include: daily housekeeping, private chef, daily breakfast, grocery purchase, child care, baby cot and chair, car hire and private garage space available upon request.
AROUND
A small medieval city and university town with fabulous Catalonian restaurants, shops, bars and cafes, historic Girona sits along the River Onyar where the walled Old Quarter (Barri Vell) features the ancient Roman rampart fragments of the Vella fortress woven through the tiny streets and alleyways.
Bordered to the north by the the beautiful and protected Garrotxa region and to the south by the Gavarres national park and the Costa Brava, the area is surrounded by some of Catalonia’s most breathtaking natural beauty. When headed to the Costa Brava don’t miss El Canadell, a hidden gem of a beach in the picturesque fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell.
The area is also home to the authentic and picturesque medieval towns of Besalu, Figueres (home of surrealist painter Salvador Dali), Santa Pau, Castellfollit de la Roca, Olot and Alta, all in less than an hour’s drive. Going back over two thousand years, the ancient Roman Road route is a fascinating drive through the region. The attractive French market town of Perpignan is just over an hour north and the medieval town of Vic is an hour west along the breathtaking (c25) road. Both the ski resorts of the Pyrenees and Barcelona are within an hour’s drive in either direction.
LOCATION
Girona, Spain. Nearest Airport: Girona-Costa Brava Airport (17km)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring through Fall
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