Finca Valbono

Finca Valbono is a three-star rural hotel on an estate of holm oaks, cork oaks, pines and chestnut trees on the edge of Aracena, inside the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park. It has two ways to stay: the six rooms of the old farmhouse, where the bar, restaurant and lounge are too, and twenty-one apartments, which the house calls alquerías, spread around the estate. It is a place for those travelling by car who want countryside a step from the village.

Six rooms or an alquería

The rooms are on the upper floor of the farmhouse, simply decorated, with bathroom, television, telephone, internet, air conditioning and heating. As there are few of them, the atmosphere is quiet. Pets are not allowed in them.

The alquerías have one or two bedrooms, for two to four people, in mountain style. The two-person apartment has a bedroom with one or two beds, a sofa, electric hob, fireplace, bathroom, central heating and air conditioning. The four-person one has a double bedroom and another with two beds, a living-dining room with kitchen and a bathroom. In the apartments pets are allowed for a €10 supplement. Rates can be checked in its search engine or on 959 127 711.

Pool, riding ring and paths

The estate has a pool, padel court, football pitch and riding ring. In summer a bar-restaurant also opens by the pool. Parking is free and spread over several areas, so you leave the car near the farmhouse or your apartment. Around it lead paths, tracks and drovers' roads for walking, Nordic walking, cycling or riding, and in autumn the woods are mushroom country.

The house cooking

The Finca Valbono restaurant, in the farmhouse, cooks with produce from the sierra — cheeses, mushrooms, chestnuts, Iberian ham — mixing traditional recipes with contemporary touches, and prepares company lunches and family gatherings. If you prefer to go down to the village, Jesús Carrión is in the centre of Aracena.

Getting there from Aracena

In Aracena take the ring road towards Los Marines and Portugal; about five hundred metres on, turn right onto the HU-8126 towards Carboneras and, less than a kilometre on, is the entrance to the estate. From Seville you arrive by the A-66 as far as Venta del Alto and then by the N-433 via Higuera de la Sierra. From the estate you go down in a few minutes to the Gruta de las Maravillas and the castle, and from the village starts the route from Aracena to Linares de la Sierra. To plan two days, see the autumn weekend in the Sierra de Aracena.