Villa Oniria ★★★★

The name Granada translates to ‘pomegranate’ – and you might compare the city to the little red fruit found abundantly in its streets. Granada seems to glow in the Andalusian sun, rich and inviting like the fruit. Once inside, the city is bursting with juicy seeds, delightful morsels of culture, gastronomy and architecture ready to pop out at you from around every corner.

It’s the city of Federico Garcia Lorca, who once said of it: “Granada formed me and made me what I am: a poet from birth and unable to help it”. Walking the streets that he knew so well, it’s easy to see how this great 20th-century writer felt so inspired. A topsy-turvy sprawl of beautiful old buildings and monuments watched over by the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the imposing Alhambra.

After taking a moment to admire the elegant 19th-century façade, I took refuge in the Villa Oniria’s cool interior, a refreshing shelter from the Andalusian heat. In the interior courtyard, complete with fountain and pool under a vast skylight, the soothing sounds of water on stone transports you miles from the city centre just outside.

The spacious and comfortable rooms are both chic and elegant, decorated by prestigious designer Pascua Ortega, and offer all the mod-cons you could hope for along with balconies. The sound of water, smell of flowers, cool touch of marble… the lobby and garden are exquisite spaces to relax in that stimulate all five of the senses!

The highlight is perhaps La Fábula restaurant, where fresh ingredients are used in creative and beautifully presented cuisine. Granada also possesses many other fine restaurants along with its legendary free tapas. The town buzzes at night in a typically Spanish way, so get out to a bar, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy whatever food comes your way!

Legend says that, after surrendering the Alhambra and city, Muhammad XII turned to take one last look at his majestic palace atop its enormous rock and burst into tears. His mother then reproached him, saying: “Thou dost weep like a woman for what thou couldst not defend as a man”. I for one, do not blame poor Muhammad. There is something about this city of pomegranates and palaces that just makes it impossible to leave.