The Mas Calvo Residence
Property perks
-
ConciergeA concierge service is available for this property
-
Baby rental
equipment partnerWe work with a carefully-chosen baby equipment rental partner in this location -
Kid & Coe
selectKid & Coe Select properties have been visited by our team and checked for their suitability for family travelers -
ItineraryWe provide a family-focused itinerary for properties in this destination
-
Professional
partnerThis property is professionally managed by a trusted partner
Perks for the Parents
This estate has 2 residences – a converted barn and a 16th century manor house – next door to each other in a 2-acre garden with a pool and plenty for the kids, even a donkey! It sleeps up to 22. Two restaurants are within walking distance and a private chef can be arranged on request. The upstairs master suite and adjoining twin room in Casa Nova is perfect for a family with 2 small children. All the double beds are large and comfortable. The house is perfectly positioned in beautiful countryside, so after you have exhausted the beaches, mountains, medieval villages, Dali triangle, Girona city and much much more you can lay back and relax by the pool.
Why Kids Love it
Kids will adore the resident donkey and the large grounds to explore. There’s also a sandpit, toddler swing, trampoline, ping pong table, hammock, telescope for star gazing and garden games including badminton, football, boules and Frisbee. Wide steps lead into the pool for easy access for kids and grandparents, and there is a 65cm wire fence for toddlers. Baby equipment includes a high chair, bed rails and 2 travel cribs, provided on request. Out and about, there are cosmopolitan beaches such as Platja d'Aro or Palamos, picturesque fishing villages such as Timariu and Cadaques, the old town of Girona that was used as a location in Game of Thrones, or for something a little different, Fundació Mona, a rehabilitation center for chimpanzees and macaques.
Things to Know
Minimum stay: 7 nights (Sat to Sat in summer). The maximum number of guests is 22. There is a private contract that must be signed and sent directly to the owner before being allowed on the property. The owner requires a private damage deposit to be bank transferred to them 6 weeks before your stay. This will be refunded the week after your stay after the house and garden has been checked by their cleaning team. A Catalan tourist tax electronic form must be completed for guests over 16 and 90c per adult is required for the first 7 nights of your stay. The host will deduct the amount from your damage deposit and pay the local government on your behalf. The smaller of the 2 properties – Casa Nova – can be rented separately, sharing the pool and garden with the owners. La Masia can only be rented together with Casa Nova with sole use of the estate at all times. Events, loud music, fires, fireworks, weddings and pets are not allowed. Please note that toddlers will need close supervision at this property – there are several stone staircases within both houses and drop off in the garden, although there is a stair gate in the main house. The pool has a low wire fence around it and young children should still be supervised around it. The estate is enclosed with an electric gate and the area is very safe. There is Apple TV (pay per view) in La Masia and DVDs and a flatscreen in Casa Nova. There is wifi throughout, though the connection is not strong in some of the rooms due to thick stone walls.
About the Location
This residence neighbors the tranquil village of Sant Martí Vell in the Gavarres National Park, 20 minutes’ drive from the city of Girona, Catalonia in north-eastern Spain. To get there, fly into Girona Airport (approx. 30 mins) or Barcelona El Prat (approx. 1.5 hrs). The Costa Brava coast, with its mix of tourist hot spots and unspoiled coves, beaches, charming fishing villages and scuba diving, is about 30 mins by car. Catalonia's largest natural lake, Banyoles, where you can swim, canoe, row and cycle, is 20 mins away. Other nearby attractions include medieval villages, vineyards, prehistoric sites, Roman ruins, Dali triangle, riding schools, golf courses, festivals and local markets. There are excellent restaurants in the area, including Celler Can Rocca, which was named the top restaurant in the world for many years. A car is recommended to explore the area.
Accommodation Details
The estate Mas Calvo comprises 2 houses: Casa Nova (4 bedrooms with 2 adjoining) and La Masia (6 bedrooms with 2 adjoining), sleeping a total of 22 in beds. Casa Nova has an open plan kitchen / dining area, downstairs bathroom with tub and shower, a twin room with two beds and a double room. Upstairs is a kingsize bedroom with ensuite shower, which leads to an adjoining room with two single beds (note: access to the twin bedroom is through the king one) and the shared bathroom. There is also a sitting room with 2 sofas, open fire and terrace with day bed. Outside is a patio with a table seating 8 to 20 for shaded, alfresco dining, and BBQ. La Masia has a bookcase-lined snug and open fire, kitchen, elegant and castle-like dining room, raised garden terrace with a BBQ, pizza oven and outdoor dining seating up to 12. Upstairs is a huge vaulted sitting room with open fire, outside terrace, kingsize bedroom with ensuite, 2 double bedrooms that share a bathroom and a twin room with an ensuite. In the attic are 2 adjoining rooms: 1 with a double and a single, which you can walk through to a room with 3 twin beds. Those rooms share a shower room as well. All the rooms have standing fans and the thick stone walls keep it cool in summer. There are 2 acres of gardens with a private pool set with the Gavarres National Park.
Style Notes
Country retreat. Casa Nova is a renovated barn with high ceilings and a wrought iron balcony, mosaic bathrooms and shelves stacked with books and local pottery. Moroccan lamps hang from ceilings and framed Indian tapestries color the walls. La Masia is a 16th century manor house with terracotta tiles, exposed beams and thick stone walls to keep it cool. The dining room is regal and the upper sitting room is grand and stately with a vaulted ceiling and a huge open fireplace. Outside is a teak table that’s just perfect for summer evening dinners – you’ll be surrounded by herbs, lavender, bay and walnut trees and a Roman well. The sunsets over the national park are often incredible and there’s plenty of seating on the upper terraces to enjoy them, and later, a telescope to spot constellations. We love the upstairs terrace in Casa Nova that has dreamy views of the national park and a daybed with a built-in backgammon table, the plentiful indoor and outdoor dining options, and the natural and very private setting.
-
Air Conditioning
-
Baby Bath
-
Baby Monitor
-
Babysitter / Nanny
-
Backyard / Garden
-
Balcony
-
Bathtub
-
Bed Rails
-
Bicycles
-
Cabinet Locks
-
Changing Table
-
Chef / Catering
-
Children's Dinnerware
-
Corner Guards
-
DVD Library
-
DVD Player
-
Dishwasher
-
Elevator
-
Fireplace Guards
-
Game Console
-
High Chair
-
Housekeeper
-
Outlet Plugs
-
Parking
-
Pet-friendly
-
Pool
-
Pool Gate
-
Stair Gates
-
Television
-
Toys / Children's Books
-
Washer / Dryer
-
Wifi
-
Window Guards
Girona, Costa Brava
On the Onyar River
This historic city an hour north of Barcelona is known for its restaurants, but don’t panic if your kids aren’t into fine dining, there are fantastic bakeries and riverside cafés here too. Leave the car and stroller at home and pack comfortable shoes for a day wandering the city's cobblestoned streets, its museum and its cathedral. Then explore the coast to the north: a 40-minute drive will take you to fishing villages, Greek ruins and a castle once owned by Salvador Dali.
