If there is such a place as "the real Spain", then much of must lie
in the centre and north of the country. This is Spanish Spain, the part
- with the exception of Madrid - less frequented by foreign tourists.
Central Spain is a vast empty upland, dotted with hills and plains and
a few cities, several of which have a remarkable historic heritage.
Leon, Salamanca, Avila, Caceres, Toledo and others, all are definitely
worth the visit.
As for the northern provinces, they
are beautiful and mountainous. Stretching from the Pyrenees
to
the Atlantic tip of Spain, the maritime areas along Spain's north coast
are known as España verde, or Green Spain; they are the only parts of
Spain that generally remain green in the hot Spanish summer. Spain's
northern coast is very different from the Spanish coast that is most
familiar to foreign tourists - on the other side of the country.
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| L'ANNUAIRE
iHi
DES
HOTELS INDEPENDANTS - 2012 |
 Central
and northern SPAIN
España
- Castile et le nord
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The
iHi SPAIN
independent hotel
guide only lists favourably reviewed small hotels
with character and guest houses offering a calm and relaxing
environment to
travellers. The IHI directory gives
priority to hotels in quiet locations in rural areas, offering good
value for
money, and to town
hotels in historic city centre areas.
We welcome suggestions from
travellers and hotel owners.
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| Click on any
hotel link for full details, location maps and online booking |
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Central
Spain: Castille,
Aragon, Madrid, Extremadura
- New
! Southern Aragon, south
of Saragossa
Hotel
Rincón De Navarrete This
hotel is located in in a very quiet village the hills of southern
Aragon, half way between Saragossa and Valencia, and close to the A23
autovia. The hotel is housed in 17th century buildings,
and offers an
authentic Spanish experience. Wonderful countryside.
- Caceres,
Extremadura
Hotel
Don
Carlos : this is
a small and attractive ** hotel in a recently renovated historic
building in the old centre of Caceres. Situated in a pedestrian area,
but not far from street parking facilities, this hotel is in easy
walking distance of the "monumental" area of Caceres, a UNESCO world
heritage site.
- New
! Salamanca, Castile
Hotel
Room Mate Vega : *** In spite of the name, this is perhaps
the best centrally located hotel in Salamanca in terms of value for
money. Most reviews are very positive, though some complain of
noise - but noise is a fact of life on warm evenings in Spanish cities.
Located in a modernised old building just off the famous Plaza Mayor,
near the old university and the cathedral. Parking available.
- New
! Segovia, Castile
Hotel
Infanta Isabel :
*** This hotel is located on the Plaza Mayor, a
fabulous location
right in the centre of old Segovia. It is actually part of a small
Spanish chain of urban hotels with character, but has the feel and
qualities of an independent establishment. The 40 guest rooms are
comfortable and clean. Much of central Segovia is traffic free,
but
hotel access is permitted.
- Cuenca,
historic quarter
The Posada
de
San José, housed in buildings that were once a
monastic choir school, is located in a quiet part of the historic
centre of this city 160 km east of Madrid. It has received a lot of
good write-ups from independent travellers.
- Ruidera
lakes, la Mancha
Hotel Albamanjon,
built in the traditional regional style, stands in a rural setting
beside one of the Ruidera lakes in the valley of the
upper
Guadiana River, near the towns of Ossa de Montiel and Ruidera.
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Northern
Spain (Navarre, Basque
country, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia, Rioja)
- New
! West of San Sebastian, Basque
Country
The Jesuskoa
guest house is a typical Basque farmhouse, 20 miles west of
San
Sebastian a couple of miles from exit 11 on the A8 motorway (Paris-Madrid route)
. Large rooms, some farm animals, friendly atmosphere, big garden,
peace and quiet. Restaurant. English spoken. 5 miles drive to the
coast, with beaches and interesting walks.
- Picos
de Europa, Asturias
The Halcon
Palace formerly
the Cofiño Palace, is a *** hotel housed
in a 17th century building enclosed by walls topped by a medieval-style
tower. The hotel is located in Arriondas, on the side of Mount Sueve,
offering views of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de
Europa..
- New
! Picos de Europa, Asturias
The hotel
Torrecerredo
** is just outside a small village in the hills between the Picos and
the coast. A great peaceful location in this part of "green Spain",
with plenty of hiking and seaside opportunities within easy reach.
English speaking proprietor. Good value for money, spacious rooms,
wonderful views, and a warm and friendly environment.
- New
! Near Tudela & Bardenas
Reales, Navarre
The pago
de Circus hotel is an old castle between Tudela and Zaragoza;
pool, restaurant, and lots of character. It lies right out in the arid
landscapes of Navarre, between Ribaforda and Ablitas, and is less than
20 km as the crow flies from the exceptional Bardenas Reales natural
park. It claims five stars, but maybe on account of its remoteness,
double rooms can be had for the price of a nice two star hotel
in London or Paris.
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Free listings
Recommend a
good and calm independent hotel or guest house in France, Spain, Italy
or the UK.
If you run or have stayed
in
a small independent hotel that you think ought to be in this directory,
contact iHi
with details. Send your email to hotels "at"
independent-hotels.info
Maximum
size: 40 rooms, or slightly more in urban locations. Given the
structure of the hotel industry in Spain, and the absence of truly
independent character hotels in a number of historic city centres,
the iHi
Guide for Spain includes some hotels that belong to small chains
specialising in distinctive urban hotels. .
If
you are an independent hotel owner and would like to submit your hotel
for inclusion in iHi
send us an email
giving details. We will send you further information. iHi
privileges calm hotels in a quiet environment.
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