Andalusia - The Hungry Nomad

Stepping off the train into the heart of Spain’s Moorish country was an all at once intoxicating feeling. The dramatic setting of Granada in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with its steep climbs and eclectic neighborhoods crowned by the mystical Alhambra Palace makes it one of those places that takes your breath away at first sight.

The UNESCO Albaicin district rising steeply is covered with powder white houses and slender streets and turns filled with North African shops, tea houses and nargilleh bars. Walk a little further past Albaicin and you will reach the most underrated but most interesting and picturesque neighborhoods in Granada, the Sacromonte. Sacromonte is located on the Valparaiso hill and is known for its gypsy population. Homes are set up in whitewashed caves cut into the mountain and still used as residences. At night the sounds of the spanish guitar and flamenco performers vibrate through the neighborhood.

Walk further and you will officially make the religious pilgrimage to the Abbey of Sacromonte and the College of Sacromonte founded in the 17th century.

For where to stay see my post on Hospes Palacio de Los Patos.

Tucked away in the narrow cobbled stoned labyrinths of the old quarter (Barrio Alfalfa) lies the Corral del Rey, a beautifully restored 17th century palacio converted into a bohemian chic boutique hotel.

The location

The Corral del Rey is located in the Barrio Alfalfa quarter, just minutes away from the Cathedral on foot but enough distance to make it a cozy retreat from all the noise and tourist traffic.

The Decor

The hotel is elegant, modern and wonderfully restored. The architectural highlights include the atrium patio, Roman marble columns and the original wooden carved beams. We walked in through moorish studded doorways to the atrium lit lobby with roman marble columns, terra-cotta tiles and rustic theme furniture. It was visually stunning and at first sight we knew that it was the perfect way to spend our sejour in Seville.

The hotel is divided between two adjacent buildings incorporating an exclusive 12 bedroom hotel and penthouse suite. The bedrooms are divided into four categories; superior, deluxe and junior suite and penthouse suite. Each room has its own creative design in which interior designer Kuky Mora-Figueroa has stamped her individual and particularly appealing style, combining an eclectic mix of ancient and modern. Our room was breathtaking and it took a lot of effort for us to gather the courage to leave every morning to visit the town. A large room with the most comfortable king sized bed at one end. A wood carved headboard accentuated the bed. The high ceilings were covered with original wooden beams. On the opposite end of the room was a kitchenette with all the amenities that one could need as a hotel guest. Across was a small work desk and lamp with international plug outlets for convenience. Through large french doors was the bathroom: my favorite part of the hotel room.

The outside of the hotel is discreet with no signs to lead the way. We were welcomed with a glass of freshly made lemonade while waiting for our luggage to be taken up to the room. In the meantime, we checked out the roof terrace with plunge pool where you can enjoy your breakfast while looking over orange tiled rooftops of Seville.

Service

Our hostesses went out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible. They took their time to show us the property and our room and later made sure we knew where to eat (away from all the tourist traps). We were welcomed to the hotel and Seville with a personally written card and a gift of estate pressed olive oil. Every evening we walked in to our room where the shades were pulled down, our ice bucket was full and chocolate was waiting at our night stands. It’s all about the personal touches at the Corral del Rey.

Food and drink

The bar/restaurant serves breakfast in a small area just off the central lobby. While the hotel does not offer a full service restaurant it does offer drinks and tapas. Not a big concern since minutes away you have the best tapas bars in the city.

The negatives

Our room was so special it was hard for us to leave.

Services

Private airport transfer service

Valet parking in nearby public under ground car park

Private guides

Tailored made excursions & activities for clients

Massages on the roof garden or in your room

Personalised Check In

Room service

Wireless Internet Access

Unique rooftop terrace with plunge pool