The Hotel Hospes Palacio de los Patos stands in the heart of Granada city centre, near Calle Recogidas – renowned since the days of Moorish rule here, housed in a 19th-century historic palace, cultural heritage of the city, near the Cathedral, the Capilla Real and the Judería (Jewish Quarter).

The hotel, contained within an authentic 19th-century palace, with marble staircase, and an adjoining building, creates a harmonious combination between two contrasting aesthetic elements: on the one hand, the refurbished palace, with its classical and industrial architecture and, on the other, the new building, urban, modern and luxurious, in short, everything to be expected of a design hotel. The Hotel also contains a complete spa centre, with indoor swimming pool, and an award-winning restaurant, the Senzone, as well as a Lounge Bar and various facilities and rooms ideal for organising meetings and special events of all kinds.

CLUB GOURMAND

Under the name of the Restaurante Senzone, awarded the 2007 prize for best new restaurant at the Madrid Fusión gourmet summit, the Hotel Hospes Palacio de los Patos serves a range of dishes combining local products and ingredients with contemporary, clearly Mediterranean, influences. Here are culinary delights that will satisfy the most demanding palate, awakening the senses in their purest state.

CLUB WELLNESS

At the Bodyna Spa, guests at the Hotel del Hospes Palacio de los Patos will find peace and tranquillity, wellbeing and beauty, as well as a range of exclusive treatments, in a unique setting. The centre includes indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish baths. The services available also include massages to awaken the senses and personal treatment programmes.

CLUB EVENTS

The Hotel Hospes Palacio de los Patos has two function rooms equipped with the latest equipment and ideal for any meetings or special events. These are: the library, with capacity for 40 people; and the UTMOST room, which holds up to 50 people and can be partitioned into three work areas, each seating from 10 to 15 people.

The Hotel Hospes Palacio de los Patos has a total of 42 rooms: 21 doubles, 11 superior doubles, 5 junior suites, 3 suites, 1 Gran Suite and 1 Presidential Suite. Besides the services to be expected of a five-star hotel, the rooms in the Hotel Hospes Palacio de los Patos are equipped with panoramic television and DVD or hi-fi, as well as Internet connection.

Regarding interior decoration, the rooms in the historic palace combine a modern air with the period aesthetic of the building, with ornamented ceilings and elaborate fabrics perfectly complementing simple contemporary furniture and flat screen television. The rooms in the modern building, on the other hand, have the more minimalist air of lofts, with solid wood floors and bare walls.

From the airport, Córdoba, Seville and Málaga by the A-92 motorway: Entering the city on the A-92, take exit 125 towards Sierra Nevada-Motril. Once on the N-323, take exit 129 to Calle Recogidas-Centro. Upon arrival at Neptuno, take the first on the left, Calle Arabial, then the first on the right, Virgen Blanca, to Plaza de Gracia, turning once more into Calle Solarillo de Gracia.

From Madrid, Jaén, Almería and Murcia by the N-323 road: Once on the N-323, take exit 129 to Calle Recogidas-Centro. Upon arrival at Neptuno, take the first on the left, Calle Arabial, then the first on the right, Virgen Blanca, to Plaza de Gracia, turning once more into Calle Solarillo de Gracia.

Granada, a city of legend sheltered by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, possesses rich artistic and cultural heritage considered unique in the world.

With its Moorish heritage, Granada combines the wealth conferred by cultural fusion and the contrasts in its streets and people: this is a city both ancient and modern, busy and quiet, Christian and Moorish, traditional and cosmopolitan, Gypsy and Spanish… The city of Granada has been synonymous with poetry, water and gardens for centuries, providing an inexhaustible source of inspiration for countless artists all over the world.

The capital of Mozarabic Andalusia boasts an infinite number of charming nooks and crannies and architectural jewels such as the famous Nasrite palaces of the Alhambra, or Qalat-Al Hamra, the red fortress in its delightful natural setting. The Alhambra is one of the most beautiful and best-conserved ancient monuments in the world, a citadel rising majestically on Porgullosa Hill. Here are various different sites, such as the military area, or Alcazaba, the Nasrite palaces and the lush Generalife Gardens.

But Granada is a veritable kaleidoscope of different cultures. Other extraordinary sights here include the sumptuous Capilla Real, in Isabelline Gothic style, founded by the Catholic Monarchs as their last resting place; the extraordinary Cathedral of La Encarnación, considered the first Renaissance cathedral in Spain, with a great nave and four enormous aisles; various popular neighbourhoods full of Moorish airs and Gypsy energy, such as the Albaicín, known as the “white barrio”, populated by white-washed houses with large patios decorated by flowers and Granada pottery, standing on a hill overlooking the Alhambra Palace; the Realejo district; and the Sacromonte caves, decorated with the typical Granada pottery that forms an important part of the most traditional tourist visit to the city.

Those visiting Granada on foot can discover the city’s streets, people and markets, such as La Alcaicería, the old Moorish silk market, which still conserves the air of a souk with its narrow little streets lined with souvenir shops.

The main areas in Granada for shopping are Calderería Nueva and Calderería Vieja, pedestrian Calle Zacatín, Calle Mesones and Calle Alhóndiga and the Alcaicería souk.

Sierra Nevada boasts one of Europe’s finest ski resorts, famous because the snow is separated by just 90 minutes’ drive from the magnificent beaches of Granada’s Costa Tropical.

A superb product of Granada’s mountains is the famous Trévelez ham, cured in the snow around La Alpujarra, whilst other dishes visitors should try here are the chicken dish pollo con tomate and the typical migas alpujarreñas.

Typical fare on the coast are espetos, delicious grilled sardines, sopa fría, a cold garlic soup made using ground almonds, tortilla al Sacromonte, pollo al ajillo (chicken in garlic) and habas fritas con jamón (fried ham and beans). The most traditional desserts in Granada province include Torta Real de Motril, Pestiños de Vélez, Tocinos de Cielo de Guadix, Roscos de Loja, Piononos de Santa Fé, Churros de Churriana and dulces de almendra, Moorish in origin.

Thanks to its important cultural traditions and the legacy left by Nasrite art, Granada is a centre for many arts and crafts, including marquetry, fine work in which mother of pearl or even bones are inlaid in chairs, tables, frames, trays and coffers, amongst other things.