Aguilas5 SevillaSuites ★★★★

I am not sure we are going the right way as our taxi zig-zags into the back streets of the local neighbourhood, taking me into a world where tourists are very few and far between. Could there really be a four-star hotel hidden away here? The answer, of course, is yes; on stepping into the entrance I give my partner's hand a squeeze as I delightedly take in my lovely surroundings. It is exactly what I have been hoping for and all my spirits are restored as the extremely attentive concierge welcomes us, assuring us that anything within his power to make our stay more enjoyable shall be done. I see in the frank, genial look in his eye that he is absolutely sincere and I suddenly have an absurd image of him climbing to the top of a glacial mountain to bottle the purest drops of water in order to soothe my parched tongue. We are offered a complimentary cocktail instead, which seems slightly more reasonable and definitely as delicious!

Inevitably the alcohol goes straight to my head and I am instantly supplied with a bottle of frosty, if not glacial, water and thus armed we go to our apartment. I am feeling very light-headed and slightly silly as we arrive, which is only heightened by what lies behind our discreet door. We walk into a flood of light gleaming softly on the black and white tiled floor and bouncing off the bright, sophisticated furnishings. There is an artistic, urban feel to the décor, with artistic shabby-chic touches, like the coffee table with faded green paint and the painting on the wall capturing an abstract impression of Seville. This fresh, contemporary design is complimented by rich antique furniture and whimsical, charming details such as the large gold magnifying glass on the desk with which to pore over the array of books made available in several languages. The modern luxuries are all present, from the LCD televisions in both the bedroom and living room, to the sheer high-spec style of the bathroom complete with rain shower, and kitchen with everything from a Braun juicer to a Dolce Gusto Espresso Machine. I am not sure where to begin and seeing my over-excited state, my other half calmly takes me by the hand and leads me to our little balcony to take in the balmy air, where we look at each other and burst out laughing. We feel like two cats that got the cream.

The stifling heat and cocktail still singing in our veins leads us to the practical conclusion that the best thing to do right now will be to try out the spectacular-looking rain shower and then follow the wonderful Spanish tradition of an afternoon siesta. This turns out to be such a wonderful idea that we religiously make it a daily habit for the rest of our stay. We awake as the light has begun to turn from bright yellow to mellow gold and, feeling the need to refresh ourselves again, we decide this time to venture up to the solarium now that the sun is less fierce. We step out onto a large, rustic roof terrace, with green potted plants, wicker loungers and a sparkling turquoise tiled pool. Perfect to dip into and cool off, before allowing the sun to seep into your skin and caress you until all the English cold has evaporated! We spend the rest of the evening reading and soaking up the deliciously relaxing atmosphere, worlds away from the hot, sticky bustle of tourists beyond our gorgeous haven.

At long last the sky begins to tint with deeper shades of blue and purple and we realise how hungry we are! I know exactly where I want to go and suddenly, spurred into action by our grumbling stomachs, we find ourselves stepping out into the sweet evening air of Seville. Diving straight into the centre, as the hotel is truly in the heart of the city despite its quiet retreated feel, we wind our way through the enchanting old town until we reach one my favourite tapas bars, El Rinconcillo. Here we immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the place and eat to our hearts' content, revelling in the mouth-watering, inventive tapas and the feeling of being somehow a part of this city, just for a few days. A life borrowed. We have our favourite local spots and all the tricks of the trade up our sleeves, not least those sweet siestas, and we have our own beautiful apartment in town, our local address, Calle Aguila 5, one of Seville's best kept secrets. This hidden gem of a hotel with its wonderful world of luxury and gorgeous, cool confines away from the heat and the masses, will have you dancing Sevillanas and shouting olé!