The hotel will be closed temporarily to March 2010

The old Hacienda Benazuza, which dates to the 10th century, stands in Sanlúcar La Mayor, in the heart of Aljarafe county, on a hill overlooking the Guadiamar river valley.

Now, the Hacienda Benazuza has been completely refurbished and transformed into a magnificent, grand luxury five-star hotel conveniently close to Seville. The new modern facilities combine perfectly with the Benazuza’s historic and cultural heritage. The rooms and corridors are adorned with artwork and precious antiques, fine pieces from cultures going back over a thousand years.

Beautiful Moorish-Andalusian gardens with palm and orange trees, outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzis, daybeds in the grounds, tennis and paddle courts, spa, petanque (boules) court, heliport, spice and fruit gardens, a 17th-century chapel enabling religious services to take place in the hotel itself; these are just some of the magnificent facilities and services offered by this authentic luxury hotel.

Besides its interesting architecture, going back centuries, one of the main attractions of El Bulli Hotel Hacienda Benazuza is its select cuisine, for the restaurant is run by the expert, prestigious hand of the world-famous chef Ferran Adrià.

Guests at El Bulli Hotel Hacienda Benazuza will also be drawn to the delightful Bar Guadarnés, with direct access to the French garden, where they can enjoy a light lunch, an aperitif or an after-dinner drink. And for summer nights there is another bar, El Sur, an exclusive Moorish jaima marquee beside the pool, where the relaxed atmosphere is perfectly suited to enjoying a drink whilst watching a silent movie.

CLUB GOURMET

The renowned chef Ferran Adrià runs all the hotel’s restaurant services. There are three restaurants in El Bulli Hotel Hacienda Benazuza:

- Restaurant LA ALQUERIA; awarded two Michelin stars, La Alqueria is where diners can taste the finest dishes created by Ferran Adrià and at El Bulli Restaurante.

- Restaurant LA ALBERCA; this open-air restaurant beside the pool, services Mediterranean and Andalusian cuisine, all seasoned by original touches created by chef Rafa Zafra.

- Restaurant LA ABACERIA; restaurant and tapas bar in the purest Sevillian style, where guests can try the most delicious local products.

“Sevilla tiene un color especial…” (“Seville has a special colour…”) That is how Los del Río immortalised the Andalusian capital in song. A city rich in customs and traditions that enjoys a magnificent climate and boasts rich historic and monumental heritage, Seville, with its friendly, hospitable inhabitants, is a leading tourist destination at world level.

Bathed by the River Guadalquivir, Seville is divided into several barrios or neighbourhoods, humble but embellished by many historic monuments and buildings. Particularly outstanding is the Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

A good starting point for a tour of this magnificent city is by a visit to La Giralda, a tower originally part of a 12th-century mosque. La Giralda commands views of Seville Cathedral, the third-largest in the world. Nearby stands the Moorish fortress, or Alcázar, built in Mudéjar style in the12th century.

We can also admire the city’s artistic heritage in its 16 museums, amongst which the most outstanding are the Museum of Fine Art and the Archaeological Museum.

But to really discover Seville’s popular culture and folklore, we need to visit its different neighbourhoods, such as the Barrio de Santa Cruz, which is of Arabic and Jewish origin, where we can visit the beautiful Real Maestranza bullring, which dates back to the 18th century.

No tour of the Andalusian capital would be complete without a visit to the María Luisa Park and the Murillo Gardens, pausing in Plaza de España, with its Art Nouveau monuments built for the First Universal Exhibition, bordered by an artificial lake and two spectacular towers.

Overlooking the River Guadalquivir stands the Torre del Oro, an octagonal tower built in Moorish times which watches over the Andalusian capital. Nearby is the emblematic Puente de Triana, a 19th-century iron bridge leading into the colourful working-class neighbourhood of Triana.

Another of Seville’s outstanding attractions is its cuisine, characterised by simple dishes given intense flavour by the condiments used to season them. Typical local dishes include: pescaíto frito, fish fried in plenty of olive oil; gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup; huevos a la flamenca, eggs with tomato and chorizo sausage: cocido andaluz (stew); and rabo de toro (bull’s tail) amongst many more delicious Sevillian delicacies.

But Seville is also renowned the world over for its tapas, small portions of typical regional dishes, such as pinchos morunos (spicy meat on a skewer), small pieces of batter-fried cod and snails. And for dessert, Torrijas de Semana Santa, based on an Arabic dish, or Yemas de San Leandro, typical sweet whose main ingredients are egg yolk and sugar.

Easter is the most outstanding religious festivity Seville, which also hosts the popular six-day April Fair (Feria de Abril), whose origins go back to a cattle fair.

Finally, amongst the city’s bustling markets, the best-known is the Rastro Sevillano flea market.