Horse-drawn carriages once drew up at the grand archway where guests now enter this reimagined 18th-century palace. Now you can escape the bustling Girona streets into the tranquil inner courtyard of Palau Fugit boutique hotel, a city sanctuary for guests looking to connect with this historic and vibrant city destination.
Dining includes the Gipsy bar-restaurant, and drinks on the rooftop terrace El Terrat. There’s a wellness cave La Cova d’aigua, with heated pool, while for urban tranquillity, head for the private patio garden with swimming pool, where filtered sunlight plays through mature trees, and soundtrack is of the trickling water of Frederic Amat’s sculptural ceramic fountain, writes Andrew Forbes, for The Luxury Editor.
Contemporary Art and Crafts
The former Casa Heras de Puig reopened in 2022 after meticulous restoration by Dani Isern’s architecture studio, who maintained the soul of the original structure whilst creating dialogue between historical grandeur and contemporary comfort. Original vaulted ceilings and traditional tilework provide foundation for El Equipo Creativo’s interior design, which breathes fresh life into palatial spaces using a modern approach to enhance the building’s inherent elegance.
Sonia Estévez’s illustrations throughout the property reflect on time’s transience and the importance of living in the present moment, while Joana Santamans’ botanical murals transform walls of the breakfast room into living gardens featuring plants and trees emblematic of Girona. Montse Nart’s custom hotel fragrance, a woody, floral scent representing the palace’s history, further ignites the senses.
Rooms & Suites
Room categories range from intimate 16-square-metre spaces to the spectacular Fugit Torre penthouse suite with its 33-square-metre private terrace.
We chose the Biggy Palau category, with some of the hotel’s most dramatic features, with soaring ceilings, double-height windows opening onto street balconies, and innovative design elements like shower facilities concealed within mirrored box rooms. Our room had a bespoke marble vanity island, while the minibar was stocked with complimentary local Rispa beer, and a welcome jar of homemade biscuits and small vase of fresh flowers created a personalised welcome.
The Rispa beer is a reflection of the hotel owner’s passion for local brewing, crafted in workshops directly opposite the palace using regional ingredients. Each recipe explores Girona’s flavours, from robust Imperial Stouts to refreshing Session IPAs.
Dining
The Gipsy bar-restaurant maintains the spirit of modern Girona, serving everything from international tapas like nachos to traditional Catalan bread with tomato and jamón. The space welcomes hotel guests and locals alike, creating a vibrant community atmosphere, enhanced by regular live music nights.
Breakfast is a refined experience in the Casa Heras dining room, where Santamans’ murals provide ba ackdrop for table service delivered on elegant, tiered stands and exquisite ceramics. Local suppliers deliver fresh produce each morning, including artisanal breads, seasonal fruits, and regional specialities. This space doubles as a private dining venue with dedicated chef services upon request.
El Terrat rooftop terrace offers an elevated perspective of the hotel, shaded by portions of Girona’s ancient ramparts. Here, guests who booked directly with the hotel can enjoy the complimentary vermouth service, respecting the local aperitif culture, as swallows swoop overhead and fountain sounds drift up from the garden below.
Wellness
La Cova d’aigua provides unique wellness experiences within a limestone cave of the original Romanesque ramparts. The heated pool, warm stone surfaces and dedicated treatment room offer an atmosphere of complete tranquillity, whilst Olively’s natural olive oil products from Alt Empordà enhance spa treatments.
The courtyard pool offers daytime respite surrounded by a charming Mediterranean garden, whilst the Amat fountain provides a constant, gentle soundtrack.
Destination
Girona rewards exploration beyond the palace walls. The annual flower festival transforms the compact historic city into a blooming artwork, with installations and pop-up gardens found throughout old town.
The new concept store, Velòdrom Odeon, a designer bicycle shop housed in a former cinema with destination café also demonstrate the city’s contemporary design vibrancy.
I can also recommend taking a private walking tour, to get a local insider perspective of the city’s layers of history, from the cathedral and basilica to the famous riverside houses. You can also take rampart walks for a distinctive perspective over terracotta rooftops, across to the surrounding countryside.
Palau Fugit certainly encourages you to pause and fully experience each moment. Whether settling into the vermouth ritual on the rooftop terrace, relishing the botanical murals during hotel wanderings, or simply listening to the sound of the fountain in the peaceful courtyard, this boutique hotel creates spaces for genuine connection with place, culture and the present moment.
Information
To help plan your stay in Girona, visit the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees visitor website for a wealth of inspiration and practical information.
Contact Details
Website: palaufugit.com
Address: Carrer Bonaventura Carreras i Peralta, 4, 17004, Girona, Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain
