Hotel Alfonso XIII
No question about it, this is the swankiest address in town. Hotel Alfonso XIII is a palace built for King Alfonso XIII of Spain to host important guests when Seville hosted its great exhibition in 1929. It is the work of the architect José Espiau, who won a competition to design what was intended to be Europe’s most prestigious hotel. It took 12 years to complete and was inaugurated at a lavish banquet by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie. The architecture is typical of the Mudéjar style that was popular at the time, taking its queues from the exuberant, colorful decoration of the period when Seville was ruled by the Moors with elaborately carved ceilings, beautiful geometrically tiled walls, and vast staircases. Following extensive refurbishment, its inlaid arches, marble floors, and ceramic friezes again shimmer like a mythical Moorish palace. There's also a good-sized outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.
Although the hotel is now owned by the city of Sevilla, it is managed by the Marriott Luxury Collection brand. Its guest rooms feature buttery leather upholstery, Nasrid-style plasterwork, and coffered ceilings. Staying here is an expensive treat, but even if you’re not a guest you can order a coffee in the courtyard and peruse historic exhibits in the lobby. Or head into the American Bar, which has an Art Deco vibe to it, with shimmering gold and glass cabinets and bright blue walls. They serve a particularly good gin and tonic here.
No question about it, this is the swankiest address in town. Hotel Alfonso XIII is a palace built for King Alfonso XIII of Spain to host important guests when Seville hosted its great exhibition in 1929. It is the work of the architect José Espiau, who won a competition to design what was intended to be Europe’s most prestigious hotel. It took 12 years to complete and was inaugurated at a lavish banquet by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie. The architecture is typical of the Mudéjar style that was popular at the time, taking its queues from the exuberant, colorful decoration of the period when Seville was ruled by the Moors with elaborately carved ceilings, beautiful geometrically tiled walls, and vast staircases. Following extensive refurbishment, its inlaid arches, marble floors, and ceramic friezes again shimmer like a mythical Moorish palace. There's also a good-sized outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.
Although the hotel is now owned by the city of Sevilla, it is managed by the Marriott Luxury Collection brand. Its guest rooms feature buttery leather upholstery, Nasrid-style plasterwork, and coffered ceilings. Staying here is an expensive treat, but even if you’re not a guest you can order a coffee in the courtyard and peruse historic exhibits in the lobby. Or head into the American Bar, which has an Art Deco vibe to it, with shimmering gold and glass cabinets and bright blue walls. They serve a particularly good gin and tonic here.
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