For friends and family looking for the utmost in discretion, privacy and seclusion, yet with all the amenities of an upscale boutique spa hotel, then a summer at Villa Romana might just be the ticket, writes Andrew Forbes.

Imagine an exceptional, interior-designed private home, with its own professional quality spa, including indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, Turkish bath, treatment rooms, work-out area and more ? all within a private Andalusian villa with beautiful manicured Mediterranean gardens. That?s Villa Romana, near Marbella.

This spring I stayed at Villa Romana, a unique ?wellness villa? in the hills above Marbella, as a guest of Empire Villas (a family-owned company specialising in unique Marbella properties for sale and rent).
…this villa is now available for summer rental, exclusively through Empire Villas. Hillside Retreat
Heading north from the beaches of Marbella and San Pedro, is the ?Ronda road?; a picturesque highway flanked by Mediterranean pines and ancient oak trees.

It leads to some of the most exclusive real estate in Europe; unique homes within exclusive, gated enclaves including El Madroñal, an established estate with beautiful Spanish cortijos, haciendas and villas.

Many of these elite homes have famous owners, from world-leaders, industrialists, to musicians, actors and artist. Discretion and privacy are paramount.
Beyond the electronic gates and cameras that protect the residents of El Madroñal from prying eyes, lies a peaceful lane ...