Where to stay in Seville
Fancy-pants grandeur versus a medieval labyrinth of a hotel in the southern Spanish city.
Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel
What's so special?
For a truly grand stay in Seville, this is the hotel to book. The building was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII and offers impressively luxurious accommodation in a central location.
How they rate it
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"As gloriously attired as a matador, towering and stucco-fronted, it's fancy-pants but fun, with tropical gardens and lavish public spaces dripping in marble and chandeliers," says Sunday Times Travel magazine. It is "a fabulous showcase of the local Mudjar styles, with Moorish arches and tiles depicting cavorting cherubs".
There are three styles of room: Andaluz, Castilian or Moorish. "This means patterned marble floors, renovated antique furniture and chandeliers or Moroccan metal lanterns." The architectural splendour of the building is "on a par with Seville's finest museums and civic palaces", says Cond Nast Traveller.
The menu
The hotel's San Fernando restaurant offers "hearty Andalucian fare", says Cond Nast Traveller, while Ena serves up tapas and cocktails.
The cost
Prices start from £199, room only, rising to £1,308 per night for the Royal Suite. Find out more at www.luxurycollection.com/alfonsoxiii, or call 00 34 954 917 000.
Las Casas de la Juderia
What's so special?
This beautiful labyrinth of a hotel, which is made up of 18 medieval houses, is situated in Seville's old Jewish district. It may be hard to find in the tangled streets, but once you have found it you will love the privacy and history of the building, as well as the excellent service.
How they rate it
The hotel is a warren of "romantic courtyards, fountains and corridors", says The Guardian.If you can't navigate your way around, "they have maps so you can find the breakfast room". The rooms "while slightly worn, still have the grandeur of Seville's golden age".
The look is "charmingly vintage Spanish parquet floors, wooden bedsteads and shutters, green-painted roof beams and stencils of Seville scenes", says Sunday Times Travel. "It's like staying in a sunny time-capsule of courtyard houses with tinkling fountains and Romanesque urns." Guests are also encouraged to take part in activities, ranging from flamenco to golf.
The menu
The hotel serves up "regional cooking, but there are also great restaurants nearby", says Sunday Times Travel. "We love the contemporary tapas at Taberna Poncio (Calle Ximnez de Enciso 33)."
The cost
A double room costs from £71, room only. Find out more at Casasdelajuderiasevilla.com, or call 00 34 954 415150.
Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.
Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.
Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping among many other titles both online and offline.
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