Best Historical Hotels in Old town

Alfonso XIII, great-grandfather of the present king, ruled until Spain declared itself a republic in 1931, and commissioned this centrally-situated hotel during 1929’s Expo 29 in Seville. Modernity mixes with Moorish and Spanish tradition in its elegant interior and stunning facade while dining outlets complement the meeting and function rooms. Sample authentic Andalusian cooking in the restaurant, or share tapas favourites in ENA by Carles Abellán. Meanwhile, as you might guess, the Bar Americano shakes (or stirs) a mean cocktail in an Art Deco setting.

Set in a nineteenth-century palace in the lively El Arenal district, this twelve-room hotel is four minutes along a narrow cobbled street from the Plaza Nueva metro station, and slightly further to the cathedral. Rooms have all amenities, with some boasting balconies, or terraces complete with orange trees. Other facilities include a rooftop bar next to a plunge pool and an on-site restaurant and cocktail bar. A lounge area is overlooked by a traditional courtyard and fountain, featuring the original marble spiral staircase in one corner.

For a luxury city centre stay, in the heart of Seville’s labyrinthine old town, then choose the family-owned Hotel Corral del Rey Seville, a historic property full of eclectic, creative style and upscale elegance. Corral del Rey is one of the most established boutique hotels in the city. Created by a family with a consistent track record in luxury hospitality, the property is within converted ‘Casa Palacios’; striking noble houses once homes to the city’s wealthy when Seville was at the epicentre of world trade with the Americas.

Superbly situated in the historic Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz, with the Giralda as a backdrop, this family-friendly converted mansion is an ideal starting point for flamenco clubs, tapas bars and the main shopping drag. The Flamenco Dance Museum is a must-see before you take in a show at La Casa del Flamenco. The Casa 1800 Sevilla has individually decorated rooms that sport hand-carved furniture, marbled bathrooms, and all facilities, while suites have terraces and outdoor Jacuzzis. Chandeliers light up the elegant public areas and the central patio. The rooftop salt-water pool carries a reflection of the bell tower and boasts amazing vistas.

Said to be the birthplace of the poet Ximinez de Enciso, this boutique hotel in the Barrio de Santa Cruz is a short walk from the Gothic cathedral and the Alcázar palace. The seventeenth-century building has been carefully restored and retains the typical architectural style of a central courtyard with a fountain. Guests can look forward to daily live guitar music and can enjoy an art gallery and a roof terrace with views to the cathedral and its baroque bell tower, the Giralda. Rooms vary in size, with suites and duplexes available, and there is also a luxury apartment.

Situated within the Santa Cruz historic and artistic district of Seville, amongst Royal Citadels and the world’s oldest bullfighting ring, La Mastranza, is your next luxurious stay – Hotel Colón Gran Meliá. Showcasing a chic and minimalistic design, each of the 156 guestrooms and 28 suites are adorned in red and gold tones with award-winning furnishings that blend the two aesthetics seamlessly into their own. With room options to suit any kind of traveller, you can immerse yourself in each floor of the hotel which is dedicated to a different Spanish artist, such as El Greco.  Its ideal and scenic location isn’t all it has to offer, with top-class dining experiences available at the El Burladero combining traditional Andalusian cooking with a dose of modernity, and Fitness facilities to keep your body and mind in shape During your next stay in Seville, at Hotel Colón Gran Meliá you are the star, with red carpet-worthy hospitality awaiting you.

This is another converted palace with a view of the bell tower, but this one dates from the fifteenth century. Despite the recent renovation, the original features and style have been respected, with rooms grouped around the central indoor courtyard, while another patio has its own well. The attention to detail continues with the care and attention that staff give to their visitors, with even kettles being provided. Terracotta flooring cools the bedrooms, some of which contain carved wooden ceilings; spaces range from standard double to suites, and there is disabled access. A Basque restaurant features a charcoal grill, and in another nod to that region, there’s also a Pintxos Bar.

An exceptional, contemporary hotel within an eighteenth-century palace, with spectacular rooms and suites that benefit from high ceilings, wooden floors and an elegant, residential style of interior design. Amenities are in keeping with its well-deserved five-star rating. CoolRooms Palacio Villapanes Hotel has Junior suites have sitting areas, while suites have expansive living areas, richly decorated with art, and a curated choice of coffee table books, and even iMac computers. Guests can also choose rooms with balconies and views over the city. Clients can take advantage of the wellness facilities, including a steam bath and a gym, and then relax in one of three typically Spanish courtyards. Or take a dip in the rooftop pool and enjoy the sight of the iconic Giralda tower.

A former 16th-century palace, this building has been restored to include Roman mosaics, marble and tiled floors and avant-garde furniture from the Renaissance era. But its rooftop is a most modern affair, with a swimming pool, banana leaf plants, a patio and four-poster daybeds proffering close-up views of the Seville Cathedral. Tuck into tapas at Pura Vida Terraza, take a tipple at the Sherry Bar and watch one of Los Seises’ live flamenco shows. Its room categories are originally named as Azahar, Olive, Sherry, La Cartuja and the Legend Terrace. The hotel is located in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

Mercer Plaza Sevilla is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the Andalusian capital, Plaza de San Francisco. It features 25 stylish guest rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace with a swimming pool and views of the Cathedral and Giralda, a Nobu restaurant, a Nobu Bar, a solarium, a 24-hour gym, and a meeting & events space. The design of the hotel pays homage to Nobu’s Japanese roots and the traditional architecture of the city. The rooms are luxurious and feature materials inspired by the Far East and rain showers, Eight & Bob amenities, and a Smart TV.

In the city where Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born, the eighteenth-century Casa Romana has been re-designed as a Roman-style dwelling on harmonious lines. Guests can choose from the extensive cocktail menu while enjoying the panorama from the roof terrace, where there is also a swimming pool. The light and airy soundproofed bedrooms offer every amenity, with de luxe options and suites available, and there is even an on-site DJ. Located in the old town, it takes around fifteen minutes to reach the burial place of Christopher Columbus in the cathedral, while the Museum of Fine Arts is a little nearer.

In a neo-Mudéjar landmark building on Calle Amor de Dios, a former theatre designed by Aníbal González, Cristine Bedfor Sevilla is a 28-room boutique guest house hotel where the old stage still stands, the central atrium soars to a sparkling glass canopy, and designer Lorenzo Castillo has drawn on 16th-century Seville to create richly layered Andalusian interiors entirely without pastiche. Enjoy a rooftop pool, intimate restaurant, and a patio bar where was once the theatre stalls.