Hotel Doña Maria ★★★★

The Hotel Doña María is located right in the centre of the Old Town, next to the famous cathedral and La Giralda tower, which was once part of an ancient mosque. It also lies within walking distance to many of the city’s most important sights including the Reales Alcázares – an ornate Moorish palace and the Plaza de Toros - the impressive looking bullring.

The building itself played an important role in Seville’s history and was once owned by the right-hand man to King Pedro I. It is even said that there used to be underground tunnels from the hotel to the Reales Alcázares and onwards towards the Guadalquivir River.

Later, the house was bought by the Marquis of La Peña and expanded, whilst the façade was redesigned. The house and all the works of art in it were passed on down through the generations of his family and in 1965 it was inherited by Doña Ángela Huesca Sasiaín, Marquise of San Joaquín who decided to build a hotel. Upon doing this she became the first women hotelier in Seville and named her hotel ‘Doña María’ as a tribute to her aunt who owned the house before her.

Today, the Hotel Doña María is still in the family and has been decorated with all the pieces of historical artwork that they have inherited too. Step inside and you feel as if you’ve just entered into stately Spanish home. Large oil paintings are mount the walls, while elegant vases and statues sit on antique pieces of furniture and ornate rugs line the floors. Like most typical buildings in Seville, it also has the indispensable pretty courtyard, filled with potted palms and open to the sky.

Rooms too have an old world charm with flowered wallpapers, canopied beds and graceful dressing tables, each one unique in its colouring and décor. Each room also pays tribute to a famous woman from Seville, so keep a look out for their paintings on the walls. Windows overlook the attractive courtyard below.

The very best part about the Hotel Doña María is not history or décor, it’s the rooftop terrace and swimming pool overlooking La Giralda tower. Seville is one of Spain’s hottest cities, and we’re not just saying it’s trendy – in summer the average temperature is around 35°C, meaning that it’s vital you have somewhere to cool off.

From up here is where you’ll truly appreciate the romantic nature of the city, sipping on an Agua de Sevilla (typical Sevillian drink made from cava, whiskey, triple sec and pineapple juice) and admiring the views of graceful spires and elegant plazas, while listening to the lilt of the Spanish guitar and the soft clip clop of hooves.

During your time in Seville be sure not to miss the majestic Plaza España, which was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 and the remarkable Real Alcázar – an ornate Moorish palace that will transport you to another time and place. The impressive building is filled with ornate tiled archways, ponds and fountains. Exploring the historic Barrio Santa Cruz, located just around the corner from the hotel, also makes for an afternoon well spent. After navigating your way round the maze of alleyways, secret courtyard gardens and pretty plazas, head back for a drink at the hotel’s Bar 17. In contrast to the rest of the establishment its décor is contemporary and stylish with cosy seating areas, a living wall and a lit-up glass bar.

Almost museum-like in its appearance, important artefacts and artwork, the Hotel Doña María is a befitting place to stay during any historical or romantic Sevillian city break – and an interesting attraction in its own right.