Casa Alicante

A Breezy Home Whimsically Updated

A fun, artsy spot for a free-spirited family vacation, this breezy villa in a classic Mediterranean village near buzzy Alicante spreads out under the shade of pepper berry, palms and fruiting citrus trees, less than 10 minutes from the seaside.

With its bright, 1980s-era pop modernist style, well-tended enclosed garden and its cute, ojito swimming pool, it’s little wonder this villa appealed to its creative owners, a Spanish-Austrian graphic designer / photographer duo. In collaboration with interior designer Carlos Poveda of Poveda Studio, the international artists transformed the simple villa into a bright gallery of cleverly upcycled and restored original features, altering details like the home’s exterior shutters into headboards, restoring wooden swim lockers, and refreshing the original kitchen with splashes of summery color and graphic patterns. In addition to the design books and signed artworks inside, the home’s artsy vibe continues outdoors where a whimsical mural by German artist Tom Roeler covers one wall and a series of oversized vintage photographs of regional beach life in the 1920s and 1960s fill another.

AROUND

Considered a “hidden gem” along the Spain’s Mediterranean coast near Alicante, the small town of Busot is a family-friendly community with an easygoing vibe. The town is full of services—grocers, bakers, markets, restaurants and cafes, shops and artisanal boutiques. It’s also close enough to glitzier Alicante if you get a hankering for nightlife or more upscale outings. Just outside of Busot, the Canelobre de Cuevas is a karst cave network that’s a popular guided-only visit. Busot’s castle is a short walk up from the town square, to a landing with scenic views, and it’s a favorite local spot for watching the sun set. 

The arid hills surrounding town offer hiking and mountain biking trails, but the real draw is the Costa Blanca, a 5 to 10 minute drive to some 200 kilometers of sandy coastline on the clear blue Mediterranean Sea. Quiet fishing harbor towns, serene coves, and 18 coastal communities line this popular coastline that offers watersports, sunbathing and beachcombing, sailing, and swimming. Alicante is the coast’s cultural capital, a busy port city of museums and monuments. Its old town, the Barrio de la Santa Cruz, has narrow streets lined with colorful buildings that house nightclubs and taverns, restaurants from white tablecloth to street food, and a prominent medieval castle, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set high on a hilltop overlooking the coastline.

LOCATION

Busot, Alicante, Spain. Nearest airport: Alicante (approximately 30 minutes)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to October