Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2008 - (Page 10) ADVISOR INSIGHT: Lillian Avilés-Chapa of JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts says, “With magnificent architecture and endless tourist attractions, Seville is a perfect destination for winter travel. Having traveled to Andalucía on many occasions, I am always pleasantly surprised by the mild climate and lack of high-season crowds from November through early March. Travelers can dine outdoors, enjoy museums without waiting in long lines and walk the city streets without fighting their way through maddening crowds.” Adds Avilés-Chapa, “Seville is now easier to maneuver with its newly inaugurated tram that runs through the historical city center.” From December 19 through March 2, Aviles-Chapa says, travelers to Seville should visit EQUIPO 57, a retrospective exhibition in the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Equipo 57, a collective of artists who played a crucial role in the history of Spanish art in the second half of the 20th century. “An experience for the senses not to be missed is the soothing Moorish bathhouse Aires de Sevilla, where guests can enjoy the hammam steam bath, massages and tea room all within the ancient walls of a 16th-century palatial structure,” she says. “A session here will definitely whip away any winter woes!” GUEST ROOMS at Hacienda Benazuza elBulli feature a mix of ornate art and antiques and the latest amenities (Double Superior with garden view shown here). stays. For families traveling together, book an Executive Suite, which can be connected to an adjoining room. All suite guests can take advantage of the hotel’s butler service. We also recommend the Hacienda Benazuza elBulli Hotel (www.elbullihotel.com), the sprawling 10th-century Moorish farmhouse in a hamlet just 20 minutes outside Seville, as much for its exquisite cuisine as for its romantic setting. Presided over by celebrity chef Ferrán Adrià, arguably the best chef in Spain, La Alqueria is the only two-Michelin-star restaurant in all of Andalucía. With the evening tasting menu, interpreted by the restaurant’s own chef, Rafa Morales, diners can discover the best original recipes from the past 10 years at Ferrán’s elBulli Restaurant in Girona, Cataluña. The seven-course concept breakfast is a mind-blowing epicurean experience: freshly baked croissants with homemade butter and marmalade, hand-pressed juices and savory dishes like Iberian ham and eggs with truffles. Dinner reservations are a must for serious foodies (hbenazuza@ elbullihotel.com; 34-955-703344; the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays). Nestled on a 40-acre estate of olive groves and orange trees, the hacienda-turned-luxury-hotel is a sensual delight of whitewashed walls, lush gardens and reflecting pools. Despite its 1,000-year history, the hotel is decked out with thoroughly modern amenities. There are just 44 guest rooms, each decorated with antiques and works of art. For the best views, book a Double Superior Room on the third floor overlooking the gardens 10 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | January 2008 http://www.elbullihotel.com
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