XATIVA APARTMENTS DESCRIPTION

We have carefully restored a 200 year old traditional building to create Xativa Apartments. It is well located in the heart of the old city.

It is on a short and typically narrow street, with no through traffic and only one block away from the central market place. At the top of our short road is the Roman Via Augusta, and at the bottom one of the many, lovely pedestrianised shopping streets.

The building had not been lived in for over 25 years, and did not have any bathrooms and only rudimentary kitchens. But it was well laid out to provide separate living accomodation on each floor. With the help of a wonderful local architect and a superb local builder, we have been able to restore all the living accommodation on the first two floors, retaining all the original features and joinery, whilst putting in new bathrooms and kitchens at the back. In each of the bedrooms, and in the dining and sitting rooms, we have sanded and sealed the beams in the ceilings, and carefully restored the barrel vaults in between these beams, and the original doors, and we have also retained all the original tiled floors. In contrast, the kitchens and bathrooms are totally modern, with good quality new fittings, granite worktops and white tiles.

It is a four storey building, with the ground floor providing access to the staircase at the rear, and a stable/studio, a small patio, my pottery and a room for teaching English. Each of the three other floors have independent and secure access off the rear staircase, and is (or in the case of the third floor, will be) a totally self contained apartment.

VIEW DIAGRAM OF HOUSE.

PEDRO is the apartment on the first floor, which we have restored for our own use. It comprises an entrance room fronting onto the street, where we tend to eat and two double bedrooms also facing onto the street. Each of these has its own small balcony. Behind on one side are the bathroom, with both a bath and a separate shower, and the WC with basin. One the other side are the sitting room, and off that the kitchen. The WC, the bathroom and the sitting room can all be accessed without going through the two bedrooms. One of these is furnished with a double bed, and the other with twins. Pedro is designed for four people.

ANNA is the larger half of the second floor, with secure access from the central reception room. In turn this is accessed from the rear staircase. It comprises a twin-bedded bedroom, with small balcony, a living/eating room ( which could accommodate a child by arrangement), a fully kitted out kitchen and private shower-room with basin and WC. The reception room is available for shared use. Anna is designed for two people.

CASTILLO is the smaller half of the second floor, with the same, secure access through the reception room from the rear staircase. It comprises a bedroom, with a double bed and small balcony, a separate WC, a small kitchen, with a fridge, small table and microwave, and a large shower. Again the reception room is available for shared use. Castillo is also designed for two people.

Anna and Castillo can be rented together, or in any combination with Pedro, to give accommodation for up to 8 adults, with two further single beds ( one on the third floor) available by arrangement.

We have furnished Xativa Apartments very simply. Each bedroom has a new, pine chest of drawers, new high quality firm beds ( with duvets you can adjust to the season), a hanging rail or access to a cupboard, and new wooden chairs, with good modern lighting. The other rooms have new wood tables and chairs, easy chairs, and a few antique pieces in Pedro. The kitchens in Pedro and Anna are fully equipped with a full range of stainless steel saucepans and a new cooker in each, with electric fan assisted oven, 3 gas rings and one electric.

Castillo has a combination microwave/grill and a slow cooker for casseroles. Each kitchen has a large new fridge, electric kettle, expresso maker, and full set of kitchen equipment, pestle and mortar, knives, cutlery, glasses, mugs and china ( the latter white porcelain), plus some condiments. So you should have no problem making the most of wonderful vegetables, fruit, fish and meat, available in the market place and in the local shops or in the Mercadona supermarket.

We will provide all the bedding, and towels for use in the apartments. But please bring your own towels for the beach. BOOKING CONDITIONS. Please click here to view booking conditions.

The Owner

I have always dreamt of living at least part of the year in a small, unspoilt, Mediterranean City. This would have a stong sense of place and of community, be not too far from the Coast, have easy access to a major urban centre, to good countryside, and an airport served by some budget airlines, but would be "real" and not overrun by tourists (like me!). I used to run a group of very effective environmental charities in Lancashire, but in 2003 they were re-organised and I became redundant. So, unexpectedly, I had the time to pursue my dream. To cut a long story short, after many trips and much research, my wife and I found, and fell for, first Xativa and then this house. I was able to spend part of my unplanned sabbatical year working on the house, with a superb local builder and local craftsmen, before going back to work. We live in Rossendale, Lancashire, but we spend as much time as we can in Xativa, and have made many friends there. We do hope that you also will enjoy the welcome and charm of Xativa. If you want to know more about Xativa, the area, or even about me, please use the "contact us" section of this website.

Entrance Hall.

Reception room in Pedro.

Castillo Bedroom.