€399,000

Character Property in Benidoleig, Valencia, Spain

Amazing, charming, historic home with unique Private enchanting cave, with current tourist licence.

Casa Calleja is a unique and unusual property, designed and built in the late 60’s for Eladio Calleja, artist, sculptor and musician. With influences by Cesar Manrique, Gaudi and his own vision, the house – in the shape of a guitar - is both contemporary and rustic, flowing across the rocks on which it is built.

Approached by steps from the car park, the left path leads through the garden along the front of the property, and then a series of winding steps takes you to the main entrance of the B+B Studio, the West garden terraces, Jacuzzi and the sunset viewpoint. The right path leads up further steps to the vine terrace, shaded with a magnificent and prolific grape vine. Here you will find the entrance to the main house, the cave and the cliff terrace.

On the cliff terrace there is a beautiful sitting and barbeque area, a office, storage area and an outside toilet. Steps down from this terrace leads you to a garden store, woodshed and kitchen garden terrace with fruit trees and herbs.

The middle terrace, between the studio and the main house, is a private suntrap on 4 levels, and includes a mosaic tiled dip pool and an ancient carob tree with its roots weaving through the rocks. From here you can see the ‘Dark Angel’, one of Eladio’s sculptures that looks down over the whole of Casa Calleja.

The most outstanding feature of Casa Calleja is its own 150million year old natural enchanting cave – very rare in private ownership. The cave stays warm in winter – and pleasantly cool in summer. At the end of the cave is a fishpond collecting drips from stalactites.

The wonderful and calm atmosphere created here makes it an exceptional venue for a variety of uses. Previously, with the Studio, it is currently being used as a romantic boutique Bed and Breakfast business, with breakfasts served in the cave. This enchanting cave makes a unique setting for wedding events, talks and lectures. The location of the house and cave would make an ideal gallery for arts and crafts. Also with minimal work the cave could be made into perhaps the worlds oldest restaurant…

Casa Calleja is situated next to La Cueva de las Calaveras (Cave of Skulls), nestling in the mountains of the Marina Alta region of the Costa Blanca, overlooking olive trees and orange groves,1 km from the pretty village of Benidoleig, with a supermarket, chemist, bank, garage and restaurants.

15km of sandy beach are just a 15 minute drive away, and the ‘Marina’ shopping mall, and junction with the main AP-7 highway are just a 10 minute drive. Alicante airport 1hr. Valencia airport/mainline railway 1¼ hr. The World Health Organisation promote this area to be in the top three best climates in the world. This, and the uncommercialised nature of the area, make it a wonderful place to live.