Hotels in Spain with a lot of history
Accommodation with a legendary past
One of the best moments of any trip is taking time to plan the destinations, what to see, and of course, where to sleep. If you are looking for a hotel for your holiday in Spain and are dreaming of staying in a special place, we have a series of historic hotels that will definitely meet your expectations, although the list could be much longer.You will find castles and palaces, many of which are more than 100 years old, with an interesting past where significant figures including royal members, Hemingway and Chaplin have all stayed. These are not simply hotels, but places where you need to spend at least one night of your life.
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Hostal dos Reis Católicos
Taking the plunge and walking part of the Camino de Santiago to finish in Santiago de Compostela is a great plan for a trip to Spain. But this plan is truly complete if you stay in the Parador (Hostal dos Reis Católicos) once you arrive in the city. Not only is it one of the most luxurious and beautiful hotels in the entire Paradores network in Spain, but its location is unbeatable: in the heart of Plaza do Obradoiro, next to the impressive cathedral.You will enjoy recalling its past as you stroll around its beautiful cloisters or savour the flavours of Galicia in its dining room. It was founded in 1499 to accommodate pilgrims, so today it is considered one of the oldest hotels in the world.
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Hotel María Cristina
The beautiful city of San Sebastian, with its exquisite pinchos and famous La Concha beach, would not be the same without this hotel. And since it opened in 1912, it has formed part of the city’s history and cultural life. The majestic façade has views over the Urumea river, it is next to the stylish Victoria Eugenia Theatre and its Belle Epoque charm is noticeable with its spectacular chandeliers, splendid columns, and much more. This hotel has always been associated with glamour.When it initially opened it used to host royalty and the aristocracy; now it plays host to the stars invited to the San Sebastian International Film Festival, which is held every year. Stars such as Coco Chanel, Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor have all spent a night in this hotel.
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Hotel Alfonso XIII
Walking through the historic Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seville has a special charm. Visitors will come across the Cathedral, the Reales Alcázares and, as an extra monument, the magnificent Hotel Alfonso XIII. It has been considered one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in the world since it opened in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exhibition, when its opening banquet was attended by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.Every detail in this hotel was carefully chosen, which makes it a real pleasure to look at its palatial rooms and the Neo-Mudéjar decoration inspired by Arabic architecture. An interesting fact: Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Peter O’Toole and the entire crew of the film “Lawrence of Arabia” were based here for the filming and even shot some scenes in the hotel.
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Gran Hotel La Perla
The city of Pamplona in Navarre is known worldwide for the Fiestas of San Fermín. Ernest Hemingway was one of the historical figures who loved this festival. And where did the writer stay in Pamplona? In this iconic hotel, of course, where Charles Chaplin, Pablo Sarasate and Ignacio Zuloaga have also been guests since it opened in 1881.To take advantage of this illustrious past, the Gran Hotel La Perla has rooms inspired by historical figures and the traveller can find, for example, Hemingway's room just as he knew it. It is a great experience to watch the bull-running at San Fermín, which is held in July, from the hotel balconies.
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The Ritz and the Palace
They are the two great classics of Madrid. King Alfonso XIII opened the Ritz in 1910 to accommodate the European nobility of the time and it maintains its Belle Epoque charm to this day, right in the centre of the Paseo del Arte. Just two years later, the other great icon of Madrid was built—the Palace, which is now in the Las Letras neighbourhood. Their clientele includes such illustrious names as Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, Sofia Loren, Elisabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Picasso, Dalí, Albert Einstein, Madame Curie…It is easy to get carried away by this distinguished atmosphere at the Sunday brunch on the Ritz's garden terrace or at the Palace's Opera & Brunch, with live opera. Madrid is also home to what has been called the oldest hotel in Spain: The charming Posada del Peine, very close to the Plaza Mayor.
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Parador de Granada
Granada's Alhambra is one of Spain's most iconic monuments. Walking around the palaces and listening to the noise of the fountains in the gardens is a unique cultural experience. But, what if you could spend a night on the complex? It is possible at the Parador de Granada, a former convent constructed for the Catholic Monarchs on top of a Nasrid palace whose century-old walls are still preserved.All of the rooms, the furniture and the cloister seem to have been taken directly from the tale “One Thousand and One Nights”. See the sunrise over Granada, take in the views of the Generalife, smell the aroma of the flowers, have the Alhambra less than 100 metres from your room and know that you are staying where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco spent their honeymoon. If you do not feel like a sultan here, then you won’t feel like one anywhere.
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Hotel de San Marcos
500 years ago in the 16th century, the Hostal de San Marcos was constructed by order of King Ferdinand the Catholic to house the headquarters of the Military Order of Santiago. The beautiful hotel in the city of León that we know today offers a real journey through history: It functioned, among other things, as a pilgrims' hospital and as a prison. In fact, such illustrious figures as the writer Quevedo were locked up here.San Marcos later operated as a type of miniature city with gardens, a winery, servants... Now it is impossible not to fall in love with this building, which has been converted into the Parador de León, upon seeing the Chapterhouse with its coffered ceilings, its cloister with sculptures... Visitors who spend a night here will really feel like Knights of the Order.
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Majestic
This hotel in the heart of Barcelona is almost right next to famous monuments such as La Pedrera and the Casa Batlló. Its origins trace back to 1918 when the Italian Ércole Cacciami founded the Majestic Hotel Inglaterra, which was considered one of the best hotels in the city. It has witnessed several historical moments and, for example, served as a centre for the foreign press during the Spanish Civil War.It has welcomed many famous people during its life: from Queen Maria Cristina to the poets Antonio Machado and García Lorca, the painter Joan Miró, the singers Charles Trenet and Josephine Baker… Today, it remains an institution.
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