Jardin de la Muralla, Ronda

Jardin de la Muralla in Ronda, Spain, was among my favorite places for an overnight stay during my most recent trip. This hospederia is located adjacent to the old city wall and the Iglesia Espiritu Santo, which I featured in a blog post some days ago. This is a cozy place that offers standard rooms, doubles, and a suite. We stayed in a standard room, which was quite spacious and the bathroom was very large indeed. The following video provides an overview of the premises.

Our amiable host prepared breakfast and gave us a few tips about exploring the city of Ronda. From Jardin de la Muralla, it is only a short walk to the “new bridge” as the one that crosses the gorge is known. On the way there, you’ll pass by some historic churches, shops, and plenty of restaurants. Furthermore, there are a number of smart shopping streets beyond if retail therapy is a requirement.

Once again, places like Jardin de la Muralla are my favorite type of accommodation in that they provide personal service without pretension. I highly recommend this one in particular.

Casa de Madrid

Casa de Madrid is a marvelous place to stay. It’s difficult to categorize because it is more residence than boutique hotel and yet has more high-end comforts than a bed and breakfast. In the first place, it is located two floors above the street and occupies the entire level. A visitor would not know where it is without good directions. There is a nondescript doorbell which you can see here:

Its very private location is one thing I like about this place. There is no through traffic the way there would be at a big hotel. Therefore, this is the right place if you prefer to be left alone or maybe host a special client on some serious business. For example, there is a main salon with couches and chairs where you could hold that soiree, preferably with a glass or two of wine:

The other side of the room offers more seating as seen here:

Let’s go in for a closer look at that little bar, just in case you’re curious.

Perhaps you enjoy reading, working on your laptop, or doing a bit of writing. Well, there’s another library-type of space as you can see here:

Some guests take their morning tea here, which is served in the following manner:

Quite cozy, isnt’ it? Upon coming through the door, you check in at this desk, which is staffed by a person capable of taking care of the small things you may require while visiting Madrid.

There are more small touches too, like the fruit plate brought to your room in the evening as seen in the next frame.

These small things make you feel at home, welcoming you into a place that may not be your own but frequently feels that way. Casa de Madrid may seem expensive until you consider the convenient location. It is only a few minutes walk to the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Plaza del Sol, and many other attractions in the old part of the Madrid. The Teatro Real is only steps away. I’ve stayed here on five separate trips and would recommend it to anyone looking for something special.

Ucles, Spain

As much as the large cities of Spain are full of wonderful things to see and do, so are the small towns. One town in particular that I found interesting was Ucles. There’s a monastery there, built on the foundations of an old castle. Here’s a look up at it from a small cemetery down in the town.

There are a couple of boutique hotels in this town that offer very comfortable accommodations. You’ll also find a few small restaurants that will serve local cuisine. Staying in a town like this gives the opportunity to sit with the residents in their tabernas and to hear about their lives in an unfiltered way. This is a favorite activity of mine and leads to great material for my novels.

Published in: on September 28, 2008 at 1:39 pm  Leave a Comment  
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