La Donaira matches tradition and heritage with new technology and 21st century ideas in a quest to find the best and most sustainable way of doing things – from farming and festivals, to simply luxurious tourism, gourmet organics, raising Lusitano horses and rare-breed cattle, wine-making and bee-keeping – and just good living in general.
The project, a kind of life lab, is run by a collaborative team and benefits from a constant flow of guests from around the world, visiting enthusiasts and volunteers, the advice of local farmers and international experts: a kind of philosophical polyculture which seeds bright new ideas for sharing.
'The best time to go in the pool is now,' says Luca. 'The birds fly over the pool three times a day, most in the late afternoon and morning. When you go down the steps, the water is already over your head and then it gets deeper and deeper. Underwater everything is green and blue, and there are little , soft, fluffy bits of algae.'
