By Vilma Darling
Getting lost in the labyrinth of medieval streets in Barri Gòtic, admiring the surreal architecture by Antoni Gaudi, tasting some fabulous food at Ferran Adria’s tapas bar and dancing until dawn in the seafront nightclubs are just a few things you could do in one of the most fabulous and hedonistic cities on Earth – Barcelona.
Catalonia’s capital is the perfect destination for a weekend break and a charming Valentine’s day gift for your beloved other half. Barcelona’s crowded streets and busy nightlife might be just a bit too much if you want to spend some quality romantic time together and so the Gran Hotel La Florida offers a perfect getaway.
The Hotel
Located on the top of Mount Tibidabo, at 500 meters above the city and seven kilometres away from its centre, this boutique hotel lures visitors with its stunning panoramic views and the exclusivity of a private luxury home with an option of a vibrant city literally at your feet.
The Hotel La Florida was designed by Noucentista architect Ramon Raventos and first opened its doors in 1925. It was used as a military hospital during the Spanish Civil War and in the 1950s became a playground of the Catalan bourgeoisie who retired to the hotel in the Tibidabo mountain for the summer. Ernest Hemingway, Princess Fabiola, Prince of Belgium and many FC Barcelona players were all guests at La Florida. But the hotel was closed in 1978 and only re-opened in 2003.
The Hotel La Florida was extended and modernised, the word ‘Gran’ was added to its name, but it stayed true to the Noucentista style. The original façade was left intact and many of the old decorative and structural elements were meticulously renovated.
Besides the views and exclusive location, the best thing about Gran Hotel La Florida is its feel of a luxury home. The hotel is spacious, quiet and peaceful, and the staff are friendly and helpful, but unobtrusive. The guests can go to the swimming pool and spa in their bathrobes through the first floor entrance and not worry about bumping into better dressed people in the lobby or the bar.
The two spaces are separated by the “Archimedes Fountain” and the impossible to see through water feature. Antique photographs and engravings of the hotel and its surroundings adorn the rooms and corridors, and the paintings of flowers by the Catalan artist Isabel Cruellas was especially commissioned for the inauguration of the hotel. The British artists Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu have also created three modern sculptures that represent the elements of earth, light and water.
Spa
In winter a glass wall separates the stainless steel infinity pool outside from the pool inside (37 metres in total), but it was still my favourite thing in the spa. Just swimming into the sunshine coming through the glass and seeing the sky and city below was enough to make you feel like you were in a very special place. In summer the Miramar bar is open on the terrace by the pool and relaxing music entertains guests who arrive from Barcelona to admire the views and enjoy the cocktails.
The Zen One spa offers facial and body treatments such as relaxing and sports massages, honey body scrubs, reflexology, Dead Sea mud baths, Swiss chocolate treatments and volcanic stone therapy among many others.
I tried the Sparience Oxygen Bubble experience – sitting and breathing inside a giant and very sci-fi looking plastic bubble, filled with 99.5% oxygen (24 Euros for 23 minutes). The treatment is supposed to reduce stress, aid injury recovery and help to recharge the batteries. The AlphaSphere bed/chair vibrates and emits warmth, blue light and strange, space age style music.
The spa beauticians say the only other location where such a treatment is offered is the Sports Medicine Unit of Quirón Hospital, where it is used to treat people recovering from injuries and stress. Breathing pure air offers a host of health benefits including revitalising the body’s natural mechanisms that eliminate toxins and dead cells, optimising the recovery process following physical exercise and providing a natural anti-aging treatment.
Rooms
All rooms in the Gran Hotel La Florida feature generously-sized marble bathrooms with in-floor heating, L’Occitane toiletries, Egyptian cotton towels, plasma screen televisions and Internet access. I was pleasantly surprised to find a hot bath full of locally grown lavender upon my return to the room in the evening.
Guests can choose from 70 rooms, the most impressive being the Presidential and Sky Terrace suites among 8 Designer and Junior Suites. Some of the rooms have a private Jacuzzi and spacious terraces and gardens and offer breathtaking panoramic views of the Pyrenees mountains, the city and the sea.
Double rooms starts from 175 Euros per room per night on a room-only basis, including tax.
Website: www.hotellaflorida.com
Phone: +34 932 593 064
Guests wanting the ultimate wellness stay can choose the Relaxing Escape package which cost from 215 Euros (£188) per Deluxe room per night and includes a 30 minute “Sparience” treatment for one person, a 50 minute “Cool Therapy” treatment for one person, free access to the ZenZone Spa, welcome drink upon arrival and buffet breakfast at l’Orangerie restaurant. (Offer valid until 31 March 2012).
The City
How to get there: Monarch airline has launched flights to Barcelona from Gatwick airport with fares, including taxes, starting from £36.00 one way (£57.00 return). For further information or to book Monarch flights, please visit www.monarch.co.uk
What to see: La Segrada Familia; Park Guell; Barcelona FC stadium and museum.
Where to eat & drink: Fabrica Moritz, Ronda Sant Antoni, 41 ; Velodromo, Carrer Muntaner, 213 (+34 93 430 60 22); Dry Martini, Carrer Aribau 162-166; Boadas, Carrer Tallers 1 (+34 93 318 95 92).
For further information or to make a booking, please contact your concierge at Bon Vivant. To make sure you’re kept informed of similar updates on a regular basis, subscribe to the blog, our fortnightly newsletter, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook!
