Partida De La Mar

Rustic Escapes is the brainchild of Tracy Ibberson. After spending many happy years in Valencia where she created one of the largest independent English colleges in Europe, she now dedicates her time to the business of relaxation by providing unique getaways in tranquil rural locations.

Partida De La Mar is a beautifully restored Valencian farmstead on the agricultural plains (la huerta in Spanish) between Valencia city and the sea. Surrounded by orchards of orange trees and fields of artichoke and chufa (used to make the sweet, milky local drink called horchata), this idyllic spot attracts guests looking to immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of the area.

“I am delighted with the bathrooms,” says Tracy. “The copper bath acts as the perfect contrast to the rustic brickwork, and guests are always impressed as soon as they walk into the shower room and see the majestic La Cage.”

 

It was important to Tracy to retain the farmhouse’s character while adding the modern comforts befitting a boutique escape, so she commissioned Catchpole & Rye to create bespoke pieces for the property. In the main bedroom’s ensuite, a luxurious copper and antique-silver roll-top bath perfectly complements the room’s original stonework and beams, but the highlight has to be our La Cage shower atop a locally carved marble shower tray. Standing over eight feet tall and inspired by a 19th-century French original, the shower enclosure envelops bathers in a ‘cage’ of gleaming piping that’s beautifully elegant without losing any of the room’s rustic charm. Another roll-top bath sits in the second bedroom’s ensuite, and a Catchpole & Rye Empress washstand and traditional high-level cistern complete the luxury picture.

The farmstead is only 1km from the beach and the pretty harbour of Port Saplaya, where there are restaurants, cafés and bars. There are historic towns within easy reach and a nearby cycle and walking trail spans the length of the huerta for over 20km. But the real draw here is those quiet plains that surround the property, as well as the tranquil rooms within.