Hotel El Castell

Housed in a former castle, on the top of a hill, Hotel El Castell boasts magnificent views of Barcelona. It occupies the Iberian Peninsula and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea. It is situated on the edge of the city, surrounded by gardens and forests. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla Its total surface area is 504,788 sq kms Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Relax in the pleasant gardens of the hotel, and soak up the sun on the sun loungers of the hotel’s terrace. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. You can then take a dip in El Castell’s swimming pool to cool off from the hot summer sunshine. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War (1936-39). Dine or enjoy a light lunch in the hotel’s restaurant or cafe. In the second half of the 20th century, it has played a catch-up role in the western international community. In the summer, you can eat outside on the spacious terrace, accompanying your meal with a drink. Continuing concerns are large-scale unemployment and the Basque separatist movement The diversity and contrast that go to mould the character of Spain are likewise in evidence in its cities. Hotel El Castell is ideally situated only 5 minutes’ drive from Barcelona’s El Prat airport. Celts, Iberians, Phoenicians and, at a later date, the Greco-Roman civilisation laid the first cornerstones of urban settlements which, to this day, bear the marks of their passage through time During the Middle Ages, Arabic, Jewish and Christian cultures, singly and through a process of mutual cross-influence, gave rise to the birth of cities which have come to house an historical-artistic heritage of incalculable proportions Tradition alone does not suffice Modernity too is essential, and this was something certain Spanish monarchs –Charles III for one– managed to successfully apply during their reigns in order to beautify townscapes, like that of Madrid, with parks and landmark monuments, thereby instilling the city with a spirit of renewal. From here you can also easily get to the city centre by car or public transport. It was this element of urban renewal that became even more evident at a later date, in the form of townplans designed to extend and enlarge the leading cities, and the construction of graceful buildings which, in keeping with the shifts and changes in architectural tastes, have helped shape the identity of Spain’s cities over the last two hundred years.