CASA PALACIO DE CARMONA, Seville
Almost hidden away, in a sun-bleached village just 20 minutes’ drive out of Seville airport is Casa Palacio de Carmona, a fairy-tale hotel that is as beautiful as it is welcoming. Stepping inside its shady, Moorish, plant-filled terracotta courtyard – with its sweeping staircases and delicate balconies – is utterly seductive; but very far from precious. We visited at Easter time when the air is filled with the scent of orange blossom and instantly felt the grey of a British winter melt away like an old skin; making us feel more like extras in a fashion shoot (which is not actually that far-fetched as this sumptuous location is a bit of a favourite with photographers).
This is a destination for those who revel in the romance of the perfectly imperfect. Our vast and utterly palatial room looked like a movie set, all antiques and faded damasks. The floor may be slightly uneven, but if you call for a cup of tea, it comes in an enchanting little pot with a dainty treat on the side. In the courtyards (Instagram catnip in shades of blush, oxblood and red clay), guests might be playing chess, sipping a delicious cocktail or watching squealing children dipping in and out of the plant-fringed swimming pool.
It’s all part of the bohemian and fabulously relaxed atmosphere of the place. We loved to just hang out in the loggia (the covered exterior gallery) where breakfast is served in the morning. By afternoon, it is the place to idle away the heat of the day over a novel, perhaps nibbling a torta de aceite or savouring an Aperol spritz.
Carmona itself is charming and perfectly low-key, but also well-placed for exploring. In Seville itself, the Real Alcázar is a dazzling Moorish palace
(get organised and book online before you visit, as queuing in the blazing
Seville sun is no fun). We also loved mooching round Córdoba – laid-back, artsy and equally a feast for the eyes.
And if you have a day to spare and a yen to bask on the beach or visit the Picasso Museum, have-it-all Málaga is just a two-hour drive away. Irresistible.
SARAH BAILEY