Elite Traveler Fall 2019

131 elite traveler FALL 2019

OFF THE BEATEN PATH Convento de Santa Paula is one of Seville’s best-kept secrets; a surprising, devout treasure nestling in the seldom-visited barrio of San Luis. The limited opening hours (Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 1pm) are well worth a committed visit, as they offer a glimpse into the hidden world of this cloistered Hieronymite convent, housing richly acclaimed treasures within a 15th-century church and secret garden. Ask the rosy-cheeked sisters to point out the paintings by Morales and José de Ribera. And don’t forget to take home some convent-made cookies or a jar of heavenly preserves. Flamenco may have wrapped its exotic, rhythmic vibe around the world, but its spiritual home will always be Andalusia. El Palacio Andaluz is an elegant flamenco venue in the humming heart of Seville, frequented by locals and tourists alike seeking to experience the indescribable vibrant passion and fiery soul of gypsy dance. Reservations are highly recommended. san tapaula.es; elflamencoensevilla.com

SEVILLE SUITES

ALFONSOXIII SUITE Hotel Alfonso XIII Positively palatial, this is the grandest grand hotel in all of Spain. Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is the preferred rendezvous for sophisticated travelers worldwide, attracting royalty, heads of state, Hollywood stars and VIPs who like their history with a hit of pure glamour. Enjoy a pre-prandial cocktail in the Art Deco Bar Americano, rich in the knowledge that Ernest Hemingway and Eva Perón once dined there. The Alfonso XIII Suite provides full-on Andalusian opulence: a regal four-poster bed, silk walls, marble columns and stucco archways. A suite fit for a king. From $2,645 per night. Contact Maria Yerga, reservations manager, maria.yerga@ luxurycollection.com, +34 954 917 000, hotel-alfonsoxiii-seville.com TORREÓN SUITE Hotel Palacio de Villapanés

MUST-SEES AMoorish masterpiece, the medieval Real Alcazár de Sevilla (above) remains the city’s most famed and must-visit sight — it is one of the oldest active royal palaces in Europe and a UnescoWorld Heritage Site. Stunning architecture, heavenly gilded ceilings, exquisite tiled ceramics, intricate mudéjar plasterwork and the sound of water from gentle fountains entice visitors to wander around the pavilions, tranquil pools and courtyards to the delicious formal gardens, featured as the famed Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones . It’s simply out of this world. Recently reopened after a lavish restoration, the Galería del Grutesco is a sculpted walkway at the end of the gardens that many people miss. But the real magic is to be had in the summer evenings, when captivating performances of dance, music and theater bring the history of the captivating Alcazár palace to life. Another of Seville’s breathtaking landmarks also happens to be the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain; it remains the third-largest cathedral in the world. Seville Cathedral is truly jaw-dropping in both sheer scale and spiritual majesty. The Pardoner’s door is the original entrance to the mosque that preceded the cathedral on this sacred site. Be sure to climb the Giralda Bell Tower — formerly the mosque’s minaret — for fabulous views over Barrio Santa Cruz. Then meditate in the peaceful orange-tree courtyard before setting out to discover the burial tomb of Christopher Columbus. alcazarsevilla.org, catedraldesevilla.es

PRESIDENTIAL PENTHOUSE SUITE Gran Meliá Colón

This hotel oozes sheer, unadulterated class, offering some of the most luxurious-yet-contemporary accommodations in Seville. It is utterly sleek and delectably chic. Be sure to check out the Moorish arches, ornate mosaics and mottled marble pillars that adorn the palace courtyard. The Torreón Suite is the hotel’s best-kept secret, high in the palace dome. It is divine with dove gray walls, a vaulted ceiling, lavish en suite with the original 19th-century marble bathtub, plus huge windows and a private terrace featuring heartbreaking views across Carmen ’s Seville. $1,050 per night. Contact Lorena Salazar, reservations manager, fomanager@palaciovillapanes.com, +34 954 502 063, palaciovillapanes.com

A matador’s cape swish away from the historic Plaza de Toros in buzzy downtown Seville, you’ll find Gran Meliá Colón. Patronized by generations of bullfighting royalty, the hotel has reinvented itself amid classic Baroque tradition with a contemporary full-on, glam-luxe, stark yet sophisticated interior. White background decor with stylish pops of black, red and gold is accented with playful, über-chic Philippe Starck and Edra furniture. The Presidential Penthouse Suite is the most spectacular suite in the hotel, boasting an impressive terrace with stunning views. From $2,070 per night. Contact Magdalena Guzman, reservations manager, granmeliacolon@melia.com, +34 954 505 599, melia.com