Rural Living
Revisiting villages from large urban areas and (re)discovering their excellence is becoming more and more common. Feeling at one with the land, being inspired by dreamy natural surroundings and discovering the magic of artisanal products is the new soundtrack for those seeking out an authentically essential experience.
HOUSES WITH A VILLAGE FEEL
An unforgettable getaway with a village feel may be just a stone’s throw from the big city. In Segovia we have Casa Pueblito and Casa Aldeallana, both part of the Aldeallana estate, a beautiful property of over 300 hectares between the Sierra del Guadarrama and the Segoviano Valley. In French Provence or Italian Tuscany there are also fantastic proposals such as Domaine de Capellongue or Casa Fabbrini.
ARTISAN BREAD
The new trend defining the value of authentic pleasures hopes to bring back the joy of eating freshly baked bread. Places like Bread Ahead in London or Harina in Madrid have loyal followers, where the production of additive-free bread is well and alive and experimenting with new varieties is the key to their success.
COUNTRY PLANS
Taking a basket-weaving course, such as those offered by Ábbatte near Segovia or signing up for guided bicycle tours, like those organised in the San Sebastian shop Kili, are perfect activities for discovering idyllic locations and suggest that life in the countryside may just be better.
PRODUCTS FROM THE LAND
Projects such as Mama Campo and Kiki Market in Madrid are already on everyone’s lips. The first is a gastronomic space that includes a restaurant, a grocery store and a children’s area. The second, a restaurant that uses ingredients from its own grocery store. Two must-visits for lovers of country living.
MAKING CERAMICS
Ceramics is on trend. The interest in pieces made with simple clay is expanding every day, as the number of followers grows. Sometimes it is merely a hand-made piece’s detail that evokes unforgettable memories, such as the hand-painted plates of Bonjour or the ceramic vases of the Danish artisan Tortus.
HOME-MADE MARMALADE
The oranges used in the Aliments Artesans Montserrat Rull’s recipe are authentically Sevillana, whose bitter orange and Palo Cortado sherry marmalade deserves a gold medal in the “World Marmalade Awards”, which recognises the best bitter orange marmalade in the world.
MONASTIC TEXTILES
Ábbatte, a handcrafted textile, fashion and décor brand, is located in the spectacular Cistercian Abbey of Santa María de la Sierra, in Segovia. Each piece is woven individually by local weavers, in a slow manner and with careful attention to detail. Seminars, courses and conferences focusing on textiles, fashion and colour are also held here. Plants used in dying are also cultivated in a specialised botanical garden.
SOUPS AND STEWS
In addition to its incredible packaging, at Petra Mora quality comes first. For example, its Galician broth is made from the traditional Galician recipe with 100% natural ingredients: Galician potatoes, rapini, broad beans, pig’s trotters, pig’s ears, salted meat and lard. A home-made flavour, ready to heat and serve.
FARM TO TABLE
To bring products from the country closer to any city there are companies like Dehesa El Milagro that send organic food right to your doorstep. In New York, meal-kit fever abounds with companies like Green Chef, whose home delivery service reaches different cities in the country.
RATTAN FURNITURE
Tiretta Living is a new Spanish brand, specialising in the design and manufacture of hand-made rattan furniture. Its founder Elena wanted to take over the old family business and bring back the typical, characteristic artisan furniture with traditional designs that were so popular in the 60s and 70s.
ARTISAN CHEESE
Quesería Cultivo is not just a shop specialised in artisan cheeses from Spain and abroad— they also have space for demonstrations and training workshops. The project has been undertaken by three families whose approach makes it different from any other cheese-selling establishment in the city.
