Aqua et Oleum Review: Historic Boutique Hotel in the Spanish Countryside

The writer was hosted.



The Extremadura region of Spain produces the best quality olive oil in the world. So what better place to stay here than a four-star boutique hotel cleverly housed in an old olive mill? That unique atmosphere certainly makes Aqua et Oleum  (Latin for “water and oil”) a great choice for foodies. But it’s equally ideal for anyone interested in an upscale getaway in a relatively untouristed region of Spain. Extremadura  is indeed unspoiled, despite being well known for its olives, its ham, and hundreds of ruined castles sprinkled about the countryside.



The hotel’s property includes gardens, a small fire pit, olive groves, a vineyard, and an outdoor pool with a view of the ruins of 15th-century Trevejo Castle. The hotel’s cozy rooftop deck is perfect for stargazing. If you’re as lucky as I was, you’ll see a shooting star!



The interior of the main building at Aqua et Oleum shows off the mill’s original olive processing equipment. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


What Makes Aqua et Oleum Special



Historic ambiance featuring the mill’s original olive processing equipment



Artwork and sculptures throughout the main building



Helpful and friendly staff who speak English



Inviting outdoor pool with a splendid view



Excellent chef who prepares gourmet dishes with local ingredients



Comfortable guestrooms tastefully decorated



Free wifi



Opportunities for stunning star gazing



Hiking available in the surrounding countryside as well as in the region’s picturesque Sierra de Gata mountain range




Equipment from the old olive mill adds charm to the hotel’s landscaping. These conical stone pieces were part of the olive press. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


Why You Might Not Want to Stay Here



If you want to be within walking distance of shops and restaurants, since the closest town is two miles away



If anyone in your party uses a wheelchair, since the stone walkways are slightly uneven and so not the best for wheelchairs



If you’re looking for a hotel that offers spa services




The bathroom in the San Martin Suite features a large boulder left in place when the owner renovated the property. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


Guest Rooms at Aqua et Oleum


Each of the hotel’s eight guest room types is slightly different. My room (the San Martin Suite) had plenty of space with a king bed on the main floor plus a loft with a sofa bed. The bed was quite comfortable with good quality linens. I also appreciated the reading lights.



My private bathroom featured an atrium ceiling with a skylight. A large natural boulder filled one corner opposite the shower. I loved the rainfall showerhead, and the water temperature and pressure were excellent, especially for a rural hotel.



I soon discovered the sliding glass doors on the loft level opened onto a small balcony that overlooked a stream running behind the property. (This stream, named Arroyo de los Lagares, used to power the waterwheel when the property was an olive mill.)



SheBuysTravel Tip: If you want a bathtub, ask for the Villamiel suite. It’s the only guestroom with a tub.


Guestroom amenities


All rooms at Aqua et Oleum feature a safe for valuables, a coffee maker with coffee pods, an electric tea kettle with tea bags, a small fridge with a minibar, and a flat-screen TV. Guests can also adjust the heat and air conditioning, and some rooms also have ceiling fans. Families are welcome at the hotel, and cribs and additional beds for kids are available on request.



The bathroom’s amenities included luxury shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in refillable pump dispensers in the shower and a charming olive-shaped soap by the sink. Each bathroom also has a hairdryer.



Mediterranean salad with local cheese and olives and regional olive oil, prepared by the talented Chef Ruben. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


Aqua et Oleum Dining


Three meals a day are available in the main building (or with room service), including a buffet breakfast with cooked-to-order eggs. In good weather, terrace seating is an option.



Chef Ruben uses locally sourced products in his gourmet Spanish and Mediterranean creations. Some produce comes from a vegetable garden out front. My favorite first course was paper-thin slices of Extremadura’s prized jamón, served with cheese, olive oil, and bread. Entrees are varied (including a delectable special Iberian cut), with vegetarian options and standard kid-friendly fare like spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and chicken breast. The bar serves all types of alcohol, and you can also order bottled water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and espresso drinks.



Our desserts included apple cobbler with cinnamon cream served in a cold glass jar, as well as cheesecake with fruit. On select dates, including our stargazing night, the chef fixes mugs of rich hot chocolate to take outside.



SheBuysTravel Tip: The hotel sells bottles of its own brand of olive oil,  made with Extremadura’s prized Cacereña Manzanilla olives. It’s a great way to bring home one of the most distinctive flavors of your trip.



Aqua et Oleum’s inviting swimming pool has a lovely view of olive orchards, vineyards, and the 15th-century Trevejo Castle. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


Aqua et Oleum’s Pool


Aqua et Oleum has a lovely outdoor pool. The pool deck offers umbrellas as well as comfortable lounge chairs. On one end of the pool area is an old stone wall with a long, narrow window showing off views of the hotel’s olive groves and vineyard. You can also see the crumbling Trevejo Castle  in the distance.  



The waterwheel on the side of the hotel’s main building originally powered the olive mill. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


From Olive Mill Ruins to a Boutique Hotel


Owner Joseph Shortell is an entrepreneur and furniture designer living in Dallas, Texas. He found the property in 2016 while looking for a vacation home in the region. He’d loved Extremadura since the 1980s, when he worked for a fruit farm here one summer so he could learn Spanish.



On his 2016 trip, Shortell came across an abandoned olive mill with two-foot-thick stone walls. The roof had caved in, and the waterwheel was intact but overgrown with vegetation. Instantly smitten, he decided to buy the property and turn it into a boutique hotel.



The olive mill had been in service from about 1920 until 1990, but evidence shows the structure may have been a watchtower or even a church several centuries ago. Shortell hired local craftsmen to do the renovations, respecting sustainability and preserving as much historical character as possible. Aqua et Oleum welcomed its first guests in 2022.



The 15th-century Trevejo Castle, located about a mile from the hotel. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


What to See and Do in the Surrounding Area


The Trevejo Castle is only about a mile from the hotel. It’s adjacent to the tiny (and quite charming) 12th-century village of Trevejo. The castle was built in the 15th century, although much of it was blown up by Napoleon’s army in the 18th century. The uphill path to the castle is not that long, but it’s rocky and uneven, so watch your step. The view of the surrounding countryside from the top is well worth the effort and is particularly romantic at sunset.



The town of Villamiel  is two miles away. Visit the one-room wine cellar of the Hacienda Nava del Ray winery in the town center. The same family has run it for centuries.



In Robledillo de Gata, a 40-minute drive, there’s a quaint olive oil processing museum  housed in an olive mill that dates from medieval times. The curator offers olive oil tastings.



SheBuysTravel Tip: If you don’t have a rental car, the hotel can arrange tours and excursions with private guides.  



The gardens of Aqua et Oleum include artifacts from the property’s original olive mill. Photo credit: Katy Koontz


Aqua et Oleum Details


Aqua et Oleum’s address is Lugar Molino de Juan de Sande S/N, Villamiel, Spain. The hotel is located just outside the village of Villamiel  in Spain’s Extremadura  region. It’s an hour and a half drive from Cáceres , a Unesco World Heritage Site , and it’s a three-hour drive from Madrid . (There is no train service.)



The hotel offers free parking in a small unpaved parking area in front of the resort’s stone entrance gate.



Check-in is after 1 pm. Check-out time is noon.



SheBuysTravel Tip: The Portuguese border is only 13 miles away, and the hotel is a three-hour drive from Lisbon . This makes adding a visit to Portugal  very convenient.



The 15th-century remains of Trevejo Castle, framed by olive branches from the hotel’s olive tree groves. Photo credit: Katy Koontz The post Aqua et Oleum Review: Historic Boutique Hotel in the Spanish Countryside appeared first on She Buys Travel .