“Inside the thick, whitewashed walls of its traditional island architecture, sabina wood beams and hand-baked terracotta tiles certainly still imbue a strong sense of the past.”
This beautifully updated former finca is surrounded by pine forest just outside San Rafael towards the west of the island. While the villa’s setting has a blissful sense of remoteness, you’re just a short drive from the beaches and sunsets in and around San Antonio, as well as numerous more traditional towns and villages. And what you get at Finca Tomas is a tastefully revamped slice of island history combined with family-friendly features for an experience that feels quintessentially Ibiza.
The Design
Few places in Ibiza combine swish Balearic-chic and rustic charm with quite as much aplomb as Finca Tomas. Once an olive oil press and farmhouse, the original building dates back to the 18th century, and every effort has been made to retain the bucolic spirit of its previous incarnation. Inside the thick, whitewashed walls of its traditional island architecture, sabina wood beams and hand-baked terracotta tiles certainly still imbue a strong sense of the past. Combined with this is a superb collection of furnishings and fabrics from such places as Bali, India and North Africa, also adding exotic and international feel.
The house consists of two parts, each with its own entrance. The main living area is a lovely spacious room with a dining space positioned between two lounge areas – one with a fireplace for cooler evenings. A big bright kitchen is cheerfully decorated with colourful tiling, granite tops and hanging spotlights. Wooden doors swing open to covered terraces dressed in white muslin drapes and Moroccan rugs. Step further outside and you find yourself in landscaped grounds – dotted with pine, cacti, aloe vera, citrus trees and ancient olives trees – where you can choose from one of several sun-dappled seating areas, breathe in the scented gardens, and gaze over the scenic surroundings.
The Details
Steps lead down from the house to a lovely sunny swimming pool area, complete with cushioned loungers, large Bali beds and raffia-weave parasols. The pool water is salt-filtered and a generously proportioned 28 square metres; it can also be heated over the cooler months. The Sonos music system also extends as far as the pool, as does the Wi-Fi. Explore the gardens and you’ll also find a playground with a playhouse, swing and trampoline for the little ones.
Inside, the kitchen is equipped with a Smeg gas range cooker, two fridges and an electric juicer to squeeze home grown oranges. Alfresco cooking opportunities come in the form of a large charcoal barbecue and wood-fired pizza oven. If you fancy a cosy night in, you’ll find Sony TV, Playstation 3, Singstar and Apple TV, in the main lounge, as well as plenty of board games for family fun. Underfloor heating also keeps things extra snug over winter stays.
With two in the main house and three in the guest annex, the villa’s five bedrooms sleep up to ten guests. All rooms come with a super-king bed, which can be swapped out for twin beds on request. Bathrooms are a highlight, too, featuring the likes of smooth pebble flooring and big stone soaking tub.
