Almagro
Metropolitan Hotel: Character
27 Rooms, Starting at €116.82
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Here's a wonderful secret hideaway where you can relax along the road between Madrid and Andalucia, in the region called La Mancha, approximately 25km southeast of Ciudad Real. A small inn originally only 15 rooms, this cultural jewel can be discovered behind massive wooden doors among the sleepy cobblestone streets in the city of Almagro, a destination rich in history, home to a prestigious yearly drama festival and of the famous Teatro Classico Compania Nacional, also location of a fine museum dedicated to the theatre. The centerpiece of the inn is a rustic light-filled courtyard surrounded by balconies, furnished with artisan materials both old and new, but beautifully combined and certainly authentic. There's a tiny reception office by the door, and across the patio a grouping of tile-topped tables where a wonderful breakfast is served every day. It's like stepping into the 17th century, with rough-hewn ironwork, exposed wood, ceramic and brick, rendered in the typical colors of the region. You can choose from a selection of rustic rooms, all different, which boast every modern convenience, a healthy complement of big, soft towels, terry robes, and French olive-oil-derived cosmetics. If the rustic rooms are too rustic for your tastes, and these are very comfortable lodgings, the hotel also has 4 modern rooms hidden away around a second courtyard off the back. From the street you'd never know that inside you'll find geometric wood headboards on king-size beds, with high tech dimmer switches, wi-fi in all the rooms, those groovy ultra-modern baths we like so much in upscale, trendy urban hotels, accented by soothing designer colors. To give a clue about how cool this hotel is, consider that Spanish director Almodovar inhabited one of La Casa's rustic suites when he filmed portions of "Volver" nearby; Penelope Cruz lived in one of the modern suites just down the hall and one flight up. In January 2008 La Casa del Rector opens an even newer wing, through a connecting portal into another adjacent unit, 4 floors of dazzling architecture containing 15 exquisite contemporary lodgings facing a futuristic skylit central atrium decorated with inventive water and light installations. There's an indoor lap pool, spa, massage room and even a private subterranean parking lot which you can enter from around the block. Combined with a mirador which overlooks the ancient roofs of Almagro, and complete meeting facilities, this lodging is transforming into a super-desirable property for a myriad of uses. You could easily honeymoon here, or do a wellness getaway. You could plan your annual company retreat. Or simply stopover in the middle of a road trip down to Sevilla, a comfortable 4 hour drive to the south. The really big hidden plus is La Casa del Rector's sister restaurant, El Correquidor, one of the finest restaurants in the region, located walking distance, about 300m down the street facing the historic Plaza Mayor. Juan Garcia, patron of both establishments, is a former top chef who built the fine dining restaurant by connecting three historic houses, which now contain a bar, intimate dining salons, and traditional function rooms, seating up to 100, imagine! Local specialties make up the top-notch menu featuring fish, meat and game. Expect the flavorful jamon which all Spain proudly serves, and those amazing wedges of manchego cheese presented on a plate alongside bread warm from the oven. Paired with wines produced under Sr. Garcia's own label, a meal becomes a memorable gastronomic occasion for enjoying the culinary best of the region. (from our inspector Stanley Moss).

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