“Thank you again for another lovely holiday at your beautiful house.
We enjoyed and appreciated the trouble and care you had taken with the gluten free menu at the dinner we shared. We enjoyed the food, the company and atmosphere, with your story of almost and actual wedding, in your lovely apartment with the cats.
Looking forward to coming again next year to check on the geckos and your lovely cats.
We have the Rio Chillar walk to do and the lovely beach at Cantarrijan to visit – plenty to bring us back to your wonderful house and your company.”
Kathryn and Richard, Hagley Worcester, September 2014.
“I have spent a few days in your lovely and scenic home staying with Else. I think you’re most privileged living in this beautiful part of Spain.”
Helle, Copenhagen, September 2014.
“Lovely time being belated, solo wedding guest (over 10 months belated actually) in this little palace with it’s cats. At last, thanks to Ernest’s navigation, really discovered Torrox with its Moorish echoes and maze of alleys and stairs. Highlights, the square and the fiesta preparations, walk down to the now not deserted village, Julio’s Spanish omelet, Antonio’s extremely powerful Muscatel wine. Thank you both for being such great hosts.”
Ginnie, London, September 2014.
“This is our second visit to your wonderful home. As last, it has been a brilliant stay. Will come back soon.”
John and Allison, October 2014
“How truly lovely to be here to celebrate on 9th. the first anniversary of your extremely famous ‘non-wedding’, and how great to see you, Ernest, and you Julio, in such very good repair. We ate and drank in every available Torrox hostelry and had such a splendid sunny break from the excitement of our new house in Edinburgh.
We love you (and six cats).”
John and Morag, Edinburgh, October 2014.
“We have spent 3 absolutely lovely days here in your amazing flat in wonderful Torrox.
The days we spent on going to the beach in Nerja and completely forgetting that it is almost winter back home in Denmark. We would love to come back soon.”
Marie, Copenhagen, November 2014.
“It’s been a very tranquil stay, obviously Julio and Ernest have rid their lovely home of the evil that took place here during the Inquisition. Many pleasant hours spent on the terrace. Loved the laid back atmosphere of Torrox, It’s been a delight. As Arnie would say... I’ll be back!”
The Blade-Waters Clan, November 2014.
“We wish to thank you for the privilege of staying in your
beautiful home. The spirit of this house
envelops you and calms the mind. I am
enchanted. Until we meet again.”
Jackie and Vassilis, September 2015.
“We have enjoyed our stay with you immensely and thank you both for making us so very welcome in your beautiful and unique home which is fascinating!!! The house has a lovely atmosphere and has been a delightful place in which to stay.”
John, Dawn and Mark, Brighton, November 2014.
“We have in the lovely and spacious ground floor apartment for two months and will be leaving to return to the UK tomorrow.
It has been a truly unique experience and one that we will cherish for a long time to come.
We particularly enjoyed sitting on the large terrace with its wonderful view of the hillside opposite and Julio’s spectacular collection of plants, which includes a grapevine which trails above the breakfast area.
Julio’s efforts to teach us some basic Spanish vocabulary were also much appreciated.
The building itself is a testament to Ernest’s vision and sensitivity in restoring the grand ‘House of the Inquisition’. Good luck to you both for the future.”
Dave and Dee, Wales, November 2014.
“We’ve had a delightful stay here. The weather has been kind to us for more than two weeks. And Ernest and Julio have been wonderful hosts, teaching us about the history of the village, as well as basic Spanish vocabulary.
We can recommend the local swimming pool... and if you like helping out, a local animal charity, Tails dog sanctuary (near Lidl) always needs people to walk their rescue dogs.
We will miss this stately building, so beautifully restored by Ernest, and the lovely view of the mountains from the terrace. We hope to return soon.
Pam, December 2014.
“We rang your door bell on New Year’s Day – What a great way
to begin the year, welcoming people into your home. Our stay was brief but memorable. We loved
your place and, since we were celebrating the honeymoon we didn’t take after
our wedding last New Year’s Eve – 2013, we kind of didn’t mind the boiler went
out and the room was cold, love kept us warm.
We hope to come back one day and enjoy a portion of the summer with
you.”
Dennis, January 2015.
“We have had a wonderful 7 days in Torrox and your wonderful
house. The history of the house is truly
amazing!
We wanted for nothing – every detail is taken care of, and
the local knowledge is priceless. Being
January it is quite cold at night – but once you close the front door behind
you, the warmth of the house permeates through you and all is well with the
world.
We would have no hesitation in recommending your lovely
house and look forward o a return visit!”
Lynda and Michael, January 2015.
“Thank you very much for a wonderful and memorable stay at
the Torrox Townhouse – how fortunate we were to discover this unique and
characterful house.
We have done some lovely walks all around the area, as far
as La Herradura and the cliff circuit above Cañuelo and Cantarrijan, and above
Canillas del Albaida and around Frigilliana.
We’ve been blessed with glorious weather and good food.
Thank you for your generous hospitality and kindness, we
look forward to visiting again.”
Jennifer and Paul, Teddington UK, January 2015.
“Thank you for an amazing stay in your beautiful house! We have enjoyed our stay with Else, it was
really nice to finally meet you. We will
definitely be back some time in the summer.
Looking forward to seeing you next time!”
Sara and Mikala, Copenhagen, February 2015.
“The great photos on airbnb website proved to be true.
Even on a rainy day we enjoyed our stay very much. Great with so many basic items in the
kitchen..´Hope to see you again next year.”
Britta and Lars, Denmark, February 2015.
“Like so many guests, we don’ want to leave!! The house has beauty everywhere inside and of
course when you look out on the terrace across the mountains, and a landscape
that is constantly changing.
Thank you for a wonderful stay, if only it were longer!!”
Aya, Jed and Rafferty, Perth Western Australia, March 2015.
“Once again coming to the end of our stay in your unique
home. Our third year in a row, which
says it all. Thank you very much for
letting us stay in what still feels like a wonderful apartment in a great
position. We have thoroughly enjoyed
ourselves and look forward to returning.”
Michael and Helen, Wales, March 2015.
“This is our third year to stay in your lovely
apartment. Thank you very much for
making us so welcome. We really have
enjoyed ourselves and no doubt will be back again. It is such a unique house and very
interesting. The views from the terrace
are amazing.”
Marie and John, Scotland, March 2015.
“We had a nice stay in your house and we liked the authentic
history of it. Thank you for your warm
welcome. You made us feel very comfortable.
The children Skadi and Kaja loved your cats a lot.
We did a number of nice walks around the area. The green river with the waterfalls, the Rio
Chillar, where we got really wet shoes, but have been really happy afterwards
and the wonderful stone formations in El Torcal.
We have been very
impressed by the Semana Santa processions in town.”
Britta and Torsten, April 2015.
“It was a pleasure to meet you sand stay in your lovely
apartment. We enjoyed extended
breakfasts every day on the terrace with a beautiful view.
Many thanks for your understanding ans help when we had to
make a 2 am. Trip to the emergency room when baby Gretchen threatened yo make
an early appearance!”
Nerys, April 2015.
“We love your house!
A fascinating building, full of wonderfully curated collections, in a
beautiful setting with charming hosts!
What more could a holiday need?
You really have created somewhere so welcoming and well
thought out – its great having a fully equiped kitchen, and book shelves to
browse and a guitar to play.
Thank you so much for a wonderful visit.”
Alex, April 2015.
“So much good info!
Loved all the old photographs of the village,made me wonder who in the
village could still remember those times!
Imagine the Inquisition wandering from room to room holding
candles. On our visit we saw:- many
lovely dogs, lots of lovely cats swifts. House martins, wolves (in a
sanctuary), deer, vultures, a falcon, an oil beetle, giant serpent, bee,
rabbits, lizards and I think an octopus –
at the beach all good! You guys
are awesome.”
Don, April 2015.
“Thank you so much for letting me sta in your beautiful
house. I loved Torrox and Nerja and hope
to come again.”
Ellen, May 2015.
“Your house is a treasure, with so much character and an
amazing view. We really enjoyed out stay
here and hopefully some day we’ll be back! “
Michel and Linda, Netherlands May 2015.
“Had an enjoyable 2 weeks (first week with Alan and then alone) looking after the house
and cats.
Most nights the nightingale sang in the valley, which was
magical. I was lucky enough to see the
house before, during and after restoration and am still enchanted.”
Larry, Manchester, May 2015.
“We had a wonderful time at your lovely apartment. We love the friendly people of Torrox, especially
those that live at 38 Calle Baja. It was
a pleasure getting to know ya’ll.”
Paul and Raquel, Texas, May 2015.
“Thank you for a superb week. The hoiuse is wonderful, everything the
pictures showed and more.
The combination of beach and village worked well for
us. We also saw a lot of Spain and now
fancy Sevilla and Granada. Very much
enjoyed the classic Spanish music in the Castilette and the scrabble was a nice
touch for us.”
Bryan and Sandi, May 2015.
“We had a lovely stay in Torrox. My uncle Ernest and Julio are expert hosts
who took us to all manner of secret spots and hidden gems. Dinner in the square, lunch in El Acebuchal
was wonderful and followed by a coastal trip to a tower to see off Barbary pirates. All wonderful. We go to Córdoba today but I
can’t wait to return.”
Ben, Southend
“I must mention the poor mans potatoes! Delicious! This has been a fantastic break with some
epic food.”
Helen, Southend, May 2015.
“Thank you for a wonderful three weeks we have enjoyed
ourstay with you both relaxing and extremely helpful. The view from the terrace was fantastic and,
as we had a very stressful year, this is what we needed, thank you for the
delicious meal and great evening – as they say in Ireland ”The crack was good.”
John and Doris, Ireland, June 2015.
“You two are just the best.
We refer to you as the “SAVIORS”.
Having fallen in love with Torrox and buying a condo here, we would have
been totally lost without your guidance.
Thank you for introducing us to sources and filling us in on the
village. We were also very appreciative
of how kind you were yo our guest Linda, touring her around while we were
immersed with condo shopping, etc. She
often remarked on how nice you both were to her. And of course we won’t forget your dinner party
with John and Doris (and the cats). We
are thrilled that we will be your new neighbors.”
Cheryl and Jim, Fort Lauderdale Florida, June 2015.
“Thank you so much for the wonderful hospitality! We truly enjoyed our stay in the “Casa de la
Inquisición” - very much a highlight of our trip to Spain so far. Wish we had budgeted more time in
Torrox! I hope we can plan a longer
visit sometime in the future.”
Mark
“Thank you for all your help with maps,restaurants,
umbrellas, etc. It was great to stay in
your guesthouse, with all of the games, movies and comfortable furniture.”
Ethan
“This is by far the most comfortable plus welcoming place we
have stayed in Spain so far. Thank you
for assisting us and advising us as well as housing us. We enjoyed our stay very much,”
Elena, June 2015.
“We loved the town of Torrox but what made this brief stop
so special was having such a warm and welcoming place to be based at. We loved eating dinner on the patio on top of
the world, having games for the kids, and getting to learn about the
interesting history of the house and the area.
Thank you for sharing your house with us!”
Tracey, June 2015
“We had a fantastic time here – We didn’t see much of the
inside of the flat as we were up in the hills at a 50th birthday party
– but it was a great place to come and relax before and after the
festivities. Hope to come again, thanks
so much.”
Petra, 2015.
“The end of our 6th summer holiday at No.
38. It just gets better every year. Just three more before retirement!”
Carol and Martin, July 2015
“As we walked into your home
The golden jewel of
white Torrox,
The palace of poetry
in stone and wood,
We remembered the
childhood we never had.
The walls spoke on
their own
And praised their
saviours
The men who painted
in stone and wood
To capture the spirit
of Andalusia
As warm as the sea
below
To tell the tale of
the travellers
Today and for years
to come.
“ And the wine was sweeter,
And we forgot our
bitter,
While we slowed down the pace
In the terrace of
grace.
Gratitude we only
have
For return of what
you gave
You must never retire
There are many more to inspire.”
Neno, Zdravko, Tijana and Conid, Montenegro, July 2015
“Thank you for
everything you did for the house of th Inquisition.
There is so much to be discovered here! Many collections, many games and so many
English books! It’s impossible to get
bored in this house, and it is as though it were out of time.
Thank you for your welcome and your advice. For sure we will come back!”
Edine, Clara, Emilie, Philippe and
Lorette, July 2015.
“We had a wonderful stay in the apartment – after travelling
in our campervan for 2 months and staying in various apartments, it’s true to
say we haven’t slept as well as we have done now. The relaxed atmosphere with so many books to
choose from has been just what we needed.
In particular, Olive our dog has been extremely comfortable here and has
found many spot to lay in. It is clesr
also that she has been very happy here on her own when we have been out
Thank you for sharing your space.”
Natalie, Lee and Olive the dog, Brighton, July 2015.
“ Joe and Ilaria invited me to come to Torrox, I thought I
knew Joe’s family, but I found two wonderful people who welcomed me as an old
friend and allowed me to live for a week in a fairy tale house, beautiful in
its particular way. Thank you so much
for your hospitality. I will always keep
in my heart the memory of these beautiful days – I wish you all the best and a
good life.”
Elena, Italy.
“Thank you so much for letting us stay in your amazing sea
cottage. We had a wonderful week, but
most of all it was to finally spend some time with both of you. I hope we will be back.”
Ilaria, London, August 2015.
“We enjoyed staying in your beautiful house with the
stunning interior, the great view of the mountains. Especially Laura felt in love with all the
kinds off collections (hats, bears, pictures and a lot more)
We thank you so much for your kind hospitality, your help
and good recommendations during the last 10 days.
We hope to come back some day.”
Jacki, Christian and Laura, August 2015.
“Thank you so much forr the time in your wonderful
house! We had a great time and enjoyed
it very much. It was really impressie to
see what you did with the house. There
is so much love in every detail – and that you can feel!
Thank you for the great experience. It was lovely to meet you both.”
Lena and Johanna, August 2015.
“Thank you so much Ernest and Julio for such a wonderful
time. As Jack said “I think this is one
of the best places in the world”. Your
hospitality has been so warm and its just been so lovely to see you.”
Abi,
“Fantastic time as usual.
Great weather and great company.
It was very nice to have the opportunity to talk an get to know each
other better! It is great to have such a big and wonderful family around
Europe.”
Luca,
“Me and Valentina really liked shaking all the snowglobes
and all the different things on the way down the stairs.”
Gabriel, London, August 2015.
“Thank you very much for letting us into your wonderful
apartment. We loved the character of the
house and enjoyed reading about the history of the building and how you came to
be here. Breakfast on the spectacular
terrace has been the highlight of our holiday in Spain.”
Mary and Joe, London, August 2015.
“Hey guys! I booked
your place cause I wanted to be close to the beach, wasn’t expecting the
magnificence of your house! I spent a
lot of time just going through your library and appreciating the details of the
house and garden, it made our holiday days special. Your story on how you bought the house was a
great read, although I’m sure you spent more rebuilding it, seeing the amazing
final result.
Thank you for sharing this unique place with visitors and
tourists, it adds a tremendous amount of value to trips, cheers!”
Anto and Eva, September 2015.
“Thank you so much for the experience f staying in your
fantastic house. We really enjoyed
getting to know you, perhaps a week was too short.
The apartment was a serene and wonderful place to relax and
we really appreciated your recommendations of where to visit and eat Paco’s Bar was a great start and highlights
were El Acebuchal and El Figon. Pastries from Ortiz were a daily treat after
our morning runs!
It has been a lovely week spending time here as a family, as
the kids get older and spread their wings, our family holiday becomes more and
more precious.
Thank you once again for your wonderful hospitality. Your
food , drink and company will be a memory we treasure in the cold Irish winter
months to come!”
Diane, Patrick, Abbie and Elliot, Ireland, September 2015.
“Thank you very much for hosting us in your lovely
apartment. We enjoyed the balcony having
breakfast in the morning and a glass of wine at night. The apartment was great to just relax and
enjoy. Also the kitchen was well
equipped so that we had some really nice diners.”
Melanie and Sakia, September 2015.
What ca I say, we had the most fantastic time in your wonderful home, full of beautiful
treasures. You both made us feel so at
home. Your warmth and welcome filled us with joy, we love you both.
Till the next time, keep well our dear, dear friends, love
you lots.”
Jacki
Thank you so much for giving us such a warm welcome. The week we have had has been magical, you
are best hosts and it has been a joy to spend the time with you both. Looking forward to coming back. Take care.”
Jon, London 2015.
“We had a great time. Loved the house. Our only regret – we
only had one week. Very comfortable and
welcoming. Lovely views from the terrace
and great room. Enchanting!
Cheers.”
Dorothy and Bernard, Portland Oregon U.S.A. September 2015.
“Thank you for the oportunity to stay in such a fabulous
house. Every room is full of lovely
furniture and things to make us feel completely at home.
Sitting on the large terrace has been fantastic. Even watering the plants has been a
pleasure! It’s been a real break from a
very busy life. I’m sure you’ll see us
next year!”
Alison and John, September 2015.
It was really nice to meet you both and thank you for our
stay in this wonderful ground floor apartment, with the large terrace and
stunning views. Your apartment has
inspired us in our house search for somewhere with character and charm like
yourselves.”
Raymond and Tina, October 2015.
We’ll see you again, no doubt.”
Tony and Sue, October, 2015.
“Thank you both so much for sharing your beautiful house
with Lorraine and myself. We had a
wonderful time in Torrox and the people in this town are very friendly. We loved Paco’s bar. We took the walk to Torrox Costa and the
walking guide leaflet was v. good. Breakfast
and reading on the terrace was so peaceful and quiet. If you ever come to Ireland, give us a call
and we can reciprocate with our cottage in Co. Kerry.”
Conal and Lorraine, Cork Ireland, October 2015.
“Thank you once again to Ernest
and Julio, the house never disappoints
and we have had a great time with Trevor and Janet in their new home...We hope
to have another Torrox pilgrimage next year – in the meantime, ADIOS AMIGOS.”
Tony and Sue, Rochdale England.
“Yet another wonderful stay in your fascinating home. Thank you for your hospitality. We will definitely be back soon.”
John and Allison, Manchester, October 2015.
“Thank you so much to have the opportunity to stay and
experience your wonderful house and your hospitality on the way to the road
trip to Morocco. Certainly I would like to come back for further experiences n
thi wonderful paysage and kind small town.”
Inge, Copenhagen
“Another crazy visit to Torrox, full of laughter and
fun. Thank you Ernest and Julio. Here’
to the Moroccan adventure now!”
Valerie and Geoff, London
“A fleeting but great visit as a prelude to a Moroccan
adventure.”
Rob, Hereford, October 2015.
“This time our stay in Torrox was a very sort one – one week
is definitely too short for a stay at this magic place. Next time it will be longer surely. Anyway we have enjoyed our stay at this
extraordinary place very much and thank you both for having been your
guests. We have learned some of the
history of the house and we will return, we want to see the dungeons for visiting
all the ghosts who are returning within these ancient walls. Thanks for everything.”
Jutta, Peter and Marie, October 2015.
“What a pleasure it has been to spend a week in your
beautiful apartment steeped in history and charm! Sorry not to have seen more of you – but we
have been kept busy with a property search of our own – it is fair to say that
we have fallen in love with this little gem of a village that feels that it is
“real Spain”.
We were fascinated to read all about the story behind the
house and how you’ve restored a dilapidated and sad property into the glorious
Marrakesh-like Palace it is today!
Hopefully if all goes to plan – we’ll be back buying books from you in the New Year. See you soon.”
Karin and Chris, November 2015.
“Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us this week,
it truly is a fascinating house and a peaceful retreat. Most comfortable beds we have ever slept in
and so quiet! Had some good meals in
Barr Paco... So nice too stay in a
Spanish town that has managed to retain its character and village charm.”
Jean, Drew and Damon, November 2015.
“We had a truly lovely weekend with sunshine and good food
(and wine!)
The patio apartment is one of the most romantic places we
have stayed in. Thank you kindly.”
.Nicci and Steve, December 2015.
“What a privilege to stay in such a glorious house
surrounded by favourite books, plants and memorabilia, and to feel the heat of
the sun at this time of year! Thank you
indeed for enabling the coming together of these family members usually spread
across the globe – fabulous. How lucky I
am that this is my introduction to the wonders of Spain! I hope to be back soon.”
Clare,
“What a pleasure to be surrounded by such excellent books in
such a glorious setting. This is my
favourite visit to Spain yet! Such a
glorious apartment – so welcoming. Very
tempted to see your N. Wales place now much closer to home. Thanks!”
Hilary, Cardiff.
“Thank you so much – this place was just the ticket – Sunny
breakfasts in the “countryside” and cosy evenings with books while I think of
our compatriots stressing about their Christmas shopping and shouting at the
perpetually overcast sky back home.
Thanks for some excellent recommendations in El Acebuchal, Bar Paco and Taberna El
Mentidero – I hope to be back with some other members of my family but I
realize I’ll need to book before too many others discover you!”Calum, Geneva,
December 2015.
“We had a wonderful time at your place. Torrox was an excellent place for us to
disconnect and connect with what is important.
Thank you very much for sharing your home, books, stories,
pictures and hospitality with us. We
really appreciate it. We wish you both
an excellent 1016. Warm hugs.”
Pamela and Kristian, Argentina and Denmark, December 2015.
“We felt exactly like home the minute we stepped in to the
lovely flat and now a week later it feels very odd to go back it Sweden.
We take with us the breathtaking views, the friendly calmness of Torrox, the tapas, the wine, a painting from
Picasso museum, a lovely dog on the street, the bookshop with the funniest,
most peculiar and
beautiful photos you have ever seen.
We also keep in our hearts this extraordinary house and its
exciting history, partly directed by Ernest, and the warmth and kindness from
the men who are living here.
Thank you so much for everything, especially for
inviting us to Julio’s birthday.
Next time we’ll bring friends and family.
Mari and Marcho, Sweden and Bulgaria, December 2015.
“We enjoyed another wonderful stay in the Torrox Townhouse –
a pleasure to return to somewhere so comfortable, relaxing and unique.
We walked in the mountains, including La Maroma, and enjoyed
good food and weather. Not to mention a earthquake (6.2) which shook the bed
and the house in the early hours!
Thank you for your hospitality once again – we hope to
return for another slice of this beautiful walking country.”
Jenifer and Paul, UK, January 2016.
“Many thanks for the wonderful week we have had in this
glorious apartment. We have never stayed
in such an eclectic and characterful house before, and it is a proper home from
home! To see the care , love and
dedication put into restoring this remarkable house is a privilege. Thank you for sharing your home with us. We will definitely be returning.”
Chris, Toni, Jan and Simon, Mojacar Pueblo, January 2016.
“Thank you for making us feel so welcome in your house and
for the surprise birthday card. We
have so enjoyed experiencing a small part of what you have
here in Torrox. You have created a home
of individual charm.”
John and Nicky, February 2016.
“Thank you for letting us stay in your wonderful and
authentic Spanish house. We really felt
at home and enjoyed exploring Torrox and its surroundings. We will definitely be coming back!!
Senna and Nina, February 2016.
“We came to Torrox seeking “the
best climate in Europe”. We were not
disappointed! Your lovely home is not
only uniquely historic but provided the comfort and safety for us to explore
the area with the idea of returning for the winter 2016/17. We will look forward to seeing you again when we return an we will
bring you a bottle of Canadian Ice wine!!
Thanks so much.”
Eamonn and Rhonda, Toronto Canada,
February 2016.
