HLAG2, Laguardia, North Spain
Though built in 1863 in the Modernista style this striking building with its imposing watchtower was constructed with stones from a 12th century barracks and has the feel of a small medieval castle. The location is excellent, built into the town wall and at the same time set up and back from the road, with views from the tower, over vineyards to the Sierra de Tolo?a and the town itself, which are truly second to none. The rooms are quite luxurious, each highly individual and in harmony with the architectural style - with one exception, the 'Amor y Locura' suite which is a true flight of fancy, very modern indeed in stark yet pleasing contrast to the rest. The hotel has a cosy restaurant and a separate bar which has a nice terrace and is open to the public as well as several common areas where clients can relax. In the reception there is a small 17th century chapel and guests are of course invited to climb the tower and enjoy those magnificent views!
8 Standard rooms and 2 suites. All with en-suite bathrooms (recently renovated & restyled to a very high standard), heating and air-conditioningAll have hair-dryer, telephone, satellite T.V. and piped musicWiFi throughout the hotelThe Amor y Locura suite is decorated in a modern romantic style with an oval, free-standing bathtubThe Neptuno suite has a double sized jacuzzi bathtub
Reception with local information. Owners will help arrange visits to wineries, museums and other local highlights. Small, traditional restaurant offering local Riojan specialities. Bar with terrace and bodega offering tapas and wine tastings. Free WiFi throughout. Visiting massage service available. Laundry service available. Watchtower with magnificent views. NB The hotel does not have parking, but there is a public car park very close by.
The restaurant serves breakfast from 6.00 to 13.00, including fresh baked goods, coffee and orange juice.Lunch and dinner also served - local Riojan men? and ? la carte available.Traditional, regional cooking in the Basque / Riojan style with some modern touches and the very best ingredients.The bar offers tapas and light snacks, again with the emphasis on fine ingredients.There are many more restaurants and bars with tapas (pintxos) in and around Laguardia.
The historic walled town of Laguardia, strategically placed upon a small hill looking out over the plains of the Rioja Alavesa, is the perfect base from which to explore the region. Populated since Neolithic times, the town became particularly important in the middle ages when the kings of Navarra built an important palace / fortress there to defend against the Moorish and Castillian invaders. Later, at the end of the 12th century, the whole town was fortified with a wall, which still stands in part today. In the 15th century Lagaurdia passed into Castillian hands and was incorporated into Alava. This began a period of peace for the town and the 16th century saw the development of the wine industry, with the construction of bodegas or caves beneath the streets and houses. Today Laguardia is a pedestrian town, as vehicles cannot enter the town walls due to the risk of these cellars caving in! The town itself is perfectly preserved and a joy to wander around; the visitor can visit among other things several bodegas, fortifications and the amazingly well preserved polychromatic archway in the church of Santa Maria. There is a good selection of bars and restaurants and interesting shopping, especially for those with an interest in wine. Nearby there is plenty to explore with several dolmens and a Bronze Age settlement within a short drive. There are, of course, a wide selection of vineyards nearby, some of which have employed the world’s best architects (such as Frank Gehry of Guggenheim fame or Santiago Calatrava) to remodel their bodegas into veritable temples. There are two wine museums, the nearby Villa Lucia and the new Dynastia Vivanco at Briones, a must for any visitor to this region (it is advisable book well before you go to avoid disappointment +34 941-322323 or email infomuseo@dinastiavivanco.es). For walkers there are plenty of trails through the vines or for the more adventurous there are the nearby Cantabrian Mountains and the Natural Park of Izki with mountains in excess of 1000m. There is a golf course open to the public in Izki and horse riding can be arranged nearby. Vitoria is less than an hour away and Pamplona (1hr 45), San Sebastian (2hr30) and Bilbao (1hr 30) all make for interesting excursions, while the local small towns in Rioja Alavesa are fascinating to wander in.
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