Best Western Premier Hotel Dante
The key to the city with special light...
Barcelona's most upmarket neighbourhood is probably "Eixample". The name means extension in Catalan, and the district was designed as an extension of the city in the 19th century by the progressive Catalan urban planner, Ildefons Cerdà. He designed the neighbourhood as a leafy egalitarian utopia. Instead the bourgeoisie took to the area in droves, commissioning Modernist architects such as Gaudí to build stunning mansions, seven of which are classified in UNESCO's world heritage list.
"Architecture is the first of plastic arts... Its supremacy comes from light. Architecture is the arrangement of light." So would Antoni Gaudi say who loved Barcelona, a city where the Mediterranean incredibly clear light is indeed very special.
Although only built in 1964, the Best Western Premier Hotel Dante blends in perfectly with its famous neighbours. Built on the site of an old glass factory, much of the hotel was recently renovated. It features a modern Mediterranean décor, perfectly in keeping with the city's reputation for style and design. But beneath the hotel's sleek exterior beats a warm heart. The same family has owned the hotel since it first opened its doors. This human dimension gives the Best Western Premier Hotel Dante a unique soul.
As a matter of fact, Barcelona's world famous architecture heritage is made of human stories more than stones. The story of the jealousy and pride of three very rich men of the XIXth century, for instance, may seem quite usual. What is most unexpected about it is that each assigned a different architect to prove his superiority. This is how today the "manzana de la Discordia" is a block of three marvellous palaces designed by Gaudí (Casa Batlló), Puig i Cadafalch's (Casa Amatller), and Domènech i Muntaner's (Casa Lleo Morera).
From the moment you enter the lobby of the best Western Premier Hotel Dante, you are struck by the elegant mix of wood, metal, glass and stone. The lighting is bright, the spaces are airy. A gorgeous plasterwork frieze hangs in the lobby. Works of art adorn the public spaces. Rising up from the lobby like a swirl is the mesmerising central staircase with its elegantly proportioned curves. On each floor, wide, brightly lit hallways lead to spacious guest rooms, all of which overlook the quiet tree lined street in front of the hotel. Some of the rooms have balconies and the suites on the top floor feature private terraces with fantastic views over the rooftops of the city. The muted colour walls contrast elegantly with the dark furnishings, leather upholstery and warm wooden accents.
The Best Western Premier Hotel Dante is ideally situated for visiting the city's most important attractions. But before heading out to explore the city, take a moment to relax in the lobby bar. The comfortable chairs and sofas are the perfect place to plan your activities over a drink.
Just a few blocks away is the Passeig de Gràcia, the heart of the Eixample, with its plane trees, wrought iron lamp posts and chic boutiques. Head down the Passeig to the Manzana de la Discordia, where some of the best examples of Modernist architecture are located. Another Gaudí masterpiece, Casa Milà (also called La Pedrera) is farther up the Passeig. From there, Plaça de Cataluña is just 15 minutes away on foot. It is the city's cultural hub, with its stores, cafés and buskers.
In the evening, you may take a long walk down the Carrer de Mallorca to Gaudi's unfinished folly, the Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's most emblematic monument. It is enlightened is such a way that it looks very light, likely to rise towards heaven.
| Best Western Premier Hotel Dante |
| Mallorca 181, Barcelona, ES, Barcelona, Spain - 08036 |
| Phone: +34 (0) 93 3232254 Fax: +34 (0) 93 3237472 |