Hidden behind the white façades of Gaucín's small, seemingly identical houses are a number of surprisingly sophisticated homes. The owner and architect of Casa Numero 34, for example, has reconfigured his house as a spacious, rambling townhouse with a colonnaded, walled garden and plunge pool. The house straddles two streets, with the front door a few yards up from the Hotel Casablanca (which also has a good restaurant) and a secret entrance at the rear. Morocco can be glimpsed from the sunny roof terrace, and in the owner's collection of rugs, mirrors and furniture.
The Moorish influence is also evident in the use of strong colours and rough walls; the cupboards in the rustic kitchen have been fashioned from traditional Andalucian front doors. Overstuffed sofas, heavy drapes between rooms, original art and artifacts, books and bric-a-brac make Casa Numero 34 warm and welcoming, while the idiosyncratic layout - the house is bisected by an internal courtyard, with the kitchen and two bedrooms on one side and the living room, terrace and master bedroom on the other - add interest and privacy.
SLEEPS
Six
PRICE
£850-£1,300 per week, including maid service
CONTACT
Elysian Holidays (01580 766 599; www.elysianholiday.co.uk)
FLY
easyJet (0870 600 000; www.easyjet.com) to Málaga (120km away)
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