Madrid wants to change the course of its current tourism and is gradually specializing in the visitor with great purchasing power that seeks high quality services and being surrounded by luxury.The capital wants to catch tourists gradually that important amounts are spent on restoration, in shows and selected products.One of the spotlights to make it more attractive is the newly reopened Hotel Santo Mauro.This refined taste establishment has received a great reform over the last months to put it ready after the pandemic and attract customers from all points on the planet, especially North America.This palace of the late nineteenth century and with a striking stately bearing has received seven million euros and has had signatures such as the interior designer Lorenzo Castillo, the landscapeist Fernando Valero or the creative director of the locker room Pedro Monjardín or the chef Rafa Peña.
The Santo Mauro Hotel is located at number 36 of Zurbano Street, in the district of Chamberí.Their high fences leave just see the buildings partially from the outside.This type of palaces began to proliferate thanks to the nobility and the high bourgeoisie at the end of the 19th century.The capital saw in those years as it tripled its urban space thanks to the widening plan carried out by the architect and urbanist Carlos María de Castro.The buildings that make up the Hotel Santo Mauro belonged to the Dukes of Estrada, built in 1892, and his son, Mariano Fernández de Henestrosa and Ortiz de Mioño, Duke of Santo Mauro, in 1902. Both palaces are the work of the architect Juan Bautista Lázaro ofDiego, who projected them for then plot 187 of the Ensanche, between the streets of Almagro, Caracas and Zurbano.
The Palacio de Santo Mauro was a residence of the Duke and his family, except for a brief period of the civil war in which he was confiscated, until a few years later, always with the Ducal family as owner and administrator, he went to diplomatic workAs an embassy of Romania, Canada and the Philippines, successively.
At the head of this hotel is the businessman Navarro and president of AC Hotels by Marriott, Antonio Catalán (Corella, 73 years old), whose main objective has been to “recover the palace” so that the guest feels “as in his own home”This entrepreneur, who began serving in the hostel that his father had in Ribaforada (Navarra) and gradually created his hotel empire, shares the direction with the Marriott chain.“This hotel is part of the best in the world, of what we call Luxury Collection.To do this, we have signed a contract with the Dukes for the next 25 years, ”says the businessman to El País.
The establishment has 49 rooms with great detail.The average price per night reaches 1,000 euros, but in case of wanting a double suite, called real suite with 130 square meters and two huge marriage beds, the account is triggered up to 4,500 euros.These high prices did not prevent only the first day of opening of the reservations will already reach 40% and that they already have occupied rooms for Christmas and New Year's Eve.
“94% of our clientele is international and 50% from the United States.There are several luxury hotels in Madrid, but like this, which will be the great commitment of the company.Until now the capital had been dead, but with the opening of some great hotels such as the Four Seasons it is going to reactivate and will bet on a very high purchasing power tourist, ”adds Catalan.
According to the businessman, Madrid has become much more attractive than Barcelona for its gastronomic, cultural and leisure offer, in addition to its political stability and the security it offers to visitors.“There is nothing to envy to London or Paris.Latin Americans are discovering it by being more fun and quiet than Miami.In part, a mayor who has managed to sell it has also contributed, as happened to Barcelona with Pascual Maragall years ago, ”maintains the Navarrese businessman.
As soon as you enter the hotel, it seems that time has stopped.Or that has returned to Madrid of horsepower and serene.A classic crystal receiver welcomes the visitor.As soon as a small stairs go up, it runs into a building decorated with a carpet and with a penetrating atmosphere with a smell of cinnamon.The lighting is indirect, which makes the stay even more warmth.Its original interior design has been preserved, with unique details such as the modernist ladder in the lobby, the small oval of the patio, the old chapel - now in a small reserved room - and the Duke's library, made with French oak wood to theLouis XV style.
The employee wardrobe, in the purest 20th style and made to measure, which represents a novelty in the sector while maintaining functionality.Cold wool and cotton have been used for summer."I have inspired myself in the 20s, the time of the wild liberation of women and a perfect time to get inspired if that functionality is sought, because the pattern years feel good in general and does not squeeze," says Pedro Monjardín.
The premise that Catalan has given to his entire team is that the client has to receive "a superexquisite treatment."And to achieve this, the workforce has increased, which now has 110 employees against 65 before.But if something dazzles is decoration.The original cadres of the palace have been maintained and all the furniture is antiques achieved by half the world by the interior designer Lorenzo Castillo.The walls have covered with fabrics, which in the case of suites are velvet and even silk.One of them has been manufactured in Italian reproducing a 16th -century Japanese reason.Pure luxury, where a classic Japanese vase or a Florentine mirror stands out.
“No decoration of the rooms is repeated, which has made it more difficult.But the truth as I knew the Dukes and how they had the house, I have inspired them to do this redecoration and that it is like a house without letting everything work perfectly.It has been a huge job, but it has been worth it, ”says Castillo.
And luxury is demonstrated in the smallest details.The soap and gel are from a first Swedish brand;The bathrobe manufactured in Italy by an outstanding company ... in the room, 24 -outer chocolate, a trade located on Zurbano Street or selected nuts.At the reception, caramelos of the bow tie, of the Puerta del Sol. And that without losing all the advances as huge televisions of plasma or Wi-Fi throughout the enclosure.A Jacuzzi square also stands out in the main suite or that the rooms have double showers so that the client can gain time.Or radiators, in thick wrought iron as in the early last century.Or that the traditional not to disturb a striking red plume with a multitude of long threads.Or the capotas that have been installed in all the windows of the facades.
The musical setting of the entire hotel is also more than controlled.The composer Lucas Vidal has been in charge of selecting the themes: "The intention is for music to connect with customers and integrate into the hotel atmosphere, in the same way as lighting or aesthetics."In fact, the playlist will be renewed every little time.
Another of the hotel pillars is the gastronomic offer, commissioned to chef Rafa Peña.This has differentiated three main options.For the rooms, it has been inspired by its own gresca bar, more conventional and natural based on wine style.The food will be more Mediterranean and with seasonal products.For more classic menus, the Palace Library has been allocated, which has suffered an important reform.The dishes will have an inspiration "more palatial and with a greater interaction with the room staff", according to the chef."The rest of the hotel restoration (room service, breakfast, brunch) maintains the spirit of the previous offer, seeking to improve the quality, presentation and freshness of the product," concludes Peña.
But if there is a place where the garden is undoubtedly for time. It seems a lie that the hotel is located near Almagro Street and surrounded by streets with incessant traffic, because inside it is almost not perceived. The centenary chestnuts planted in the construction of buildings have been logically respected, which helps that feeling of tranquility. A temple has been installed and the furniture has been renewed, in addition to a pergola in which acts can be held or tasting Peña's kitchen. Night lighting is so detail that it has even reached the cup of a pine of huge bearing. In this little Vergel you can find violets, magnolios, ferns and cycas of the Jurassic, Rododendros, Azaleas, Olivos and Laureles Mediterranean, Jupiter trees, sacred and oriental bamboo, chestnuts of the Indies, Limoneros, Boj, English and Jasmine climbers, between others. "The basic concept of landscaping work used has been to recognize the values and characteristics of the garden that it already possessed because it was a great example of a particular aristocratic residence of European air transformed into a public hotel," details the landscaper Fernando Valero.
As the hotel's own services, the so -called Walking MAP or walking tour stands out, in which the staff will accompany customers to destinations that are not more than 20 minutes walk where they can buy exclusive gifts, go to selected restaurants from Chamberí orVisit museums that are in the vicinity and do not have long lines.Also, two days a week, there will be a tour for guests in which a guide will tell them the history of the palace and the most prominent anecdotes."We want to break molds and that customers appreciate the luxury of our best hotel," concludes Catalan.Of course, a luxury within the reach of very few pockets in the center of Madrid.
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