Casa Riera

A Catalan Country Charmer

This thoroughly updated Catalan village classic stands tall and beautiful, only steps from the heart of its small town’s historical center. A graceful remodel, this villa for rent in Spain spreads across several levels and overlooks a private, Provencal-styled garden with a pool and alfresco entertainment area, and an exclusive guesthouse with a bedroom fireplace and contemporary refurb.

Another great house from our friends at Viu Empordà, this Catalan country charmer looks more aristocratic than agricultural, given its meticulous remodel. It’s that rare, authentic getaway, a stony village home with cool urban styling—a place where old and new collide. Brightened by a floor-to-ceiling splash of white and an oversized, arched window opening into the garden, the home’s interior is accessorized by mod geometric fireboxes, sculptural furnishings, and ultra-contemporary large-scale artworks.

The vast garden takes its cues from the yards at Mediterranean villas, and combines stone terraces and pebbled pathways, all zigzagged by neatly manicured aromatic shrubs. The property’s namesake mimosa tree out front smells divine, and ivy-clad, vine-covered nooks and patios offer quiet spaces for reprieve. The villa’s pool is offset by noble plumes of cypress and tucked in the shade of silvery olives.

AROUND

Located walking distance from the center of Rupia, this villa for rent in Spain was created for relaxation and retreat. The home offers a small private gym and library, and services (massage, yoga) can be arranged in-home. Set in Baix-Empordà, Rupia is a classified medieval village with a handful of pretty squares contained within original fortified walls. The town’s gates remain intact, and there’s a picturesque church and bold private castle on a neighboring hillside. One of the town’s most unique ancient sites is its Olivera Grossa, or fat olive tree, a centenary+ olive that has survived fire and the test of time.

About 10 miles from Rupia, the ruins at Empuries offer a glimpse into antiquity, back to Greek times and 500BC, but all the towns of Empordà feel a little lost in time. Pretty villages with strong medieval backdrops and tight alleys, the inland towns of Peratallada and Pals, Monells, Ullastret and Madremanya display Catalonia’s rich history. La Bisbal d’Empordà is an accredited World Craft City, one of only five in Europe. Widely regarded as a ceramic capital and home to the famed Terracotta Museum that celebrates this heritage. The nearby Costa Brava presents a different picture for the region. Known for its secluded coves of limpid water, the scenic coastal area can be visited by land or sea, offering the discovery of tiny fishing ports and dramatic bays and the Mediterranean’s abundant blue waters.

The property’s managers grew up enjoying Empordà’s lesser-traveled forests, seashores and traditional villages, and have created a menu of local experiences available by reservation—from Mediterranean sailing tours to air balloon flights, perfumery and wine courses to ceramic workshops and historical visits—all led by regional professionals. Read more here.

LOCATION

Rupia, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Nearest airport: Girona (approximately 35 minutes), Barcelona (approximately 1½ hours)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October