Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla

Hotel Casa 1800 occupies a traditional Sevillian casa palacio in the Santa Cruz quarter, only about 130 metres from the Cathedral and the Giralda. The building's history goes back to the early 19th century, hence the name, and its present structure dates from a major reform in 1864. Before it became a hotel, it belonged to the Piñar family, and it was one of the last properties of José María Piñar y Miura, mayor of Seville in the 1950s.

The layout follows the classic model of a Sevillian mansion. You enter through heavy wooden carriage doors into a central courtyard, around which the rooms are arranged on several floors. The interiors combine period features with classic furnishings, and the higher room categories add extras such as a private terrace or a jacuzzi. Like many old houses in the centre, some rooms face the courtyard rather than the street, which keeps them quiet.

The rooftop is one of the hotel's main attractions, with a small pool and a terrace looking out over the rooftops to the Cathedral and the Giralda, a welcome place to cool off after a day of sightseeing. Guests are offered a complimentary afternoon snack each day, a tradition that many visitors remember fondly, and the breakfast buffet is generous. There is also a small spa. The hotel offers experience packages around themes such as romance, wellness, food and culture.

Casa 1800 suits couples and travellers who want character and a central location at a price below the city's top luxury hotels. It is consistently highly rated by guests, so rooms go quickly, especially in spring. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival is offered on some rates, which adds flexibility. Prices rise during Holy Week and the April Fair.

Calle Rodrigo Caro is a quiet lane in the heart of Santa Cruz, a minute or two from the Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes at the foot of the Giralda. The Alcázar, the Archivo de Indias and the lanes and squares of the old Jewish quarter are all within a few minutes' walk, and there are many tapas bars on nearby Calle Mateos Gago.