Our beautiful 800 year old restored olive mill is tucked away in a secluded and peaceful location amongst the ancient olive groves of rural Axarquia.
This small and unspoilt area of Andalucia - to the north and east of Malaga - is still a well kept secret and has retained it's traditional rural character. Untouched (as yet!) by tourism, it remains predominantly agricultural. Bordered to the north and east by the rugged mountains of the high Sierras, and to the south by the Mediterranean coast.
The space
We have lovingly and carefully restored the property in traditional "Tipico" style, taking great care to keep all the original features, and using only traditional materials in order to preserve it's unique ambience. Ceilings are all beamed with eucalyptus poles, and floors have either handmade terracotta tiles or the original stone, whilst all the windows have wooden shutters.
The spacious living accommodation is in the Millhouse. It is very comfortably furnished in local "rustica" style and provides all modern conveniences, including fans and central heating for your year round comfort.
On the ground floor you enter a large dining hall with pine table and chairs, then leading through an arch to a pretty, well equipped kitchen/breakfast room. With the old bread oven, modern full gas cooker, microwave oven, large fridge/freezer, double sink unit, cupboards and worktops, table and chairs. Wi-Fi is is available in the house.
Off the dining hall to the left is the large split-level sitting room. This used to be the donkey stables, and overlooks and opens into the rear walled garden. There is a corner wood burning stove, plenty of comfortable furniture and two full sized built-in day beds ready for that siesta! There is also a TV with English Satellite Freeview and DAB radio and a selection of books.
At the rear of the dining hall is a shower room/w.c. and a stone staircase leading up to 3 bedrooms. All the bedrooms are now fitted out with Air Conditioning.
Bedroom 1: Very pretty dual aspect double room with beautiful views. It has a king sized bed with a hanging mosquito net. This room also has a ceiling fan and separate en-suite shower room/w.c. Bedroom 2: Rear aspect with twin beds. Bedroom 3 Front aspect with single bed. All the bedrooms have chests of drawers and clothes hanging space, duvets and English pillows. All bed linen and bathroom towels are supplied.
Facilities: Flower filled gardens surround the property and include the walled garden/courtyard. There are many trees in the grounds including olives (one reported to be 2,000 years old!) lemon, pomegranate, fig, almond and oranges.
To the front of the house is a pretty cane roofed terrace area with table and chairs for outdoor dining and traditional style built-in barbecue. From this terrace, a path and steps lead down to the beautiful, private swimming pool surrounded by terraces with sun loungers and umbrellas.
The large pool (10 x 5 metres) is heated and available for all year round enjoyment. It has corner steps at the shallow end and a flat area of 2 metres making access easier for children. The depth there is 1 metre dropping to 2 metres at the deep end.
The salt water purification system ensures clean water with no stinging eyes or chlorine smelling clothes. There is a freshwater shower on the terrace and w.c./changing room down steps at the side of the pool.
Swimming/pool towels are supplied. There is a washing machine in our utility room across the walled garden, which may be used if required on request.
A change of linen and towels is supplied weekly. The swimming pool is cleaned and maintained, and although available all year, is not heated!
The millhouse is available all year. For cooler days during the winter, central heating is provided and in summer electric fans and A/C in the bedrooms provide additional comfort in hot weather.
The Old Mill, which still contains the millstones and olive press is for our own use and we do not let it out to guests. We are seldom at the property but when we are then your privicy is respected.
Other things to note
LA MOLINA DEL OLIVAR
This is a translation of the history of the mill as dictated by Jose Gavilan (Pepe), the last person to live and work the at the mill until we brought it in 1998.
The Olive Mill was built during the time the Muslims were in occupation, probably sometime between 1000 – 1200 A.D.
When the power of the Muslims started to decline, by the strong pressure from the Catholic Kings, the Olive Mill was christened “EL NINO BONITO”, meaning “The beautiful Child”, possibly by the Spanish people when they expelled the Muslims in 1270 A.D. Since then a lot of people have been the Mill’s owners.
The Mill was constructed of wooden beams from the Olive and Elm trees, and rock from the ground. The Olive Mill was the meeting point of all the olive pickers of the region to grind and press their harvest. This continued through all the centuries until the 20th century when in 1954 it ceased to be a productive mill and the co-operatives in Riogordo continued the work.
Riogordo, in the province of Malaga, in an area know as “Penas de Mara”, La Molina del Olivar was the biggest processing centre of olives in all of Axarquia. With a capacity of 150kg and with the force of a mule, it made 16 litres of each time. It is said that it was the best oil in Malaga.
During the Civil War, a lot of people took refuge in the mill, against the terrorist group know as “Los Milicianos”
The know owners have been: - La Cancona, Las Vegas, Gavilan Mateo, Gavilan Gavilan, Jose Gavilan and Bonifacio Gavilan, the latter two who are brothers and are still alive today.
After many years of history, this mill has stayed intact and has left us with a cultural legacy which we shall do our best to preserve.
Licence number
CR/MA/01126
