Lopez De Haro

A masculine, granite-grey facade leads to sleek, modern interiors at Lopez de Haro, a city centre hotel moments from Bilbao s finest attractions. It occupies the Iberian Peninsula and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea. Renowned for excellence in both service and comfort, it also has a good restaurant and an atmospheric bar. 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.
This is the ideal stylish retreat from which to explore Bilbao. 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 enjoy superb Basque cuisine in the classic surrounds of restaurant Club Nautico, or head to the armchair-filled lounge for a relaxing afternoon tea. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War (1936-39). In the evening, the super-chic cocktail bar is as inviting and stylish as the city. In the second half of the 20th century, it has played a catch-up role in the western international community.
Walk to the heart of Bilbao - pretty Plaza Moyua with its box hedges, fountains and surrounding boutiques, then onto to the Guggenheim Museum. 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. The enchanting Old Town is where you will find delightful open-air food markets. 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. Travel beyond the city and take a wine tasting tour in the world-renowned Rioja vineyards. 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.
Lopez de Haro is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property. This contrast is also to be seen in the individual heartbeat of Spain’s cities, where surroundings, climate and daily lifestyles harmonise to lend each its own typical character and atmosphere.