Category Archives: Valentine’s Day

Seville & Granada | Valentine Getaways

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Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and the best places to spend a romantic weekend are rapidly filling up. But don’t despair if you’re the sort of person who leaves these things till the last moment; we still have holiday apartments for rent in two of Andalucia’s most beautiful destinations, Seville and Granada.

Both cities are famous for the picturesque narrow streets of their old towns, the exotic splendour of their Moorish style palaces (especially Granada’s Alhambra on its hilltop), and their Cathedrals (especially Seville and the iconic Giralda Tower), as well as the lively bustle of their tapas bars and the rhythms of flamenco. But for that special holiday you also need that perfect base of operations, and for that you can’t beat a cosy little apartment in the thick of the action. Here are some that are still available.

Granada

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Carnero – A charming one bedroom apartment in a Casa Palacio with an inner courtyard full of plants, located in the maze of streets just off the River Darro in the heart of the city. Wood beam ceilings and wood flooring give it a warm traditional feel. Highlight is the view of the Alhambra Palace from the large balcony outside the bedroom.

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Carmen Terrace 1 – A cosy studio in a Casa Carmen (a house with a walled garden unique to Granada) on the Alhambra Hill, with a private terrace and garden area. Highlight is the glass wall that runs along one side of the apartment with a breathtaking view of the old Moorish quarter.

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Sacramonte Cueva 2 – Once in a lifetime experience is this one bedroom cave house (with all mod-cons) in the famous Sacramonte neighbourhood, high enough up to be above the Alhambra. It’s the gypsy-bohemian part of the city, and it’s worth going to one of the flamenco shows in the caves here. Highlight is really the totally unique atmosphere of the cave itself.

Seville

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Flores Terrace – This little studio apartment has it all. Rustic and colourful with its own private terrace, terracotta floors and wooden ceilings, in a Casa Palacio with a beautiful courtyard. Highlight? Click on the link and check out the cute bathtub.

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Plaza Santa Cruz B – One bedroom apartment in a typical Sevillano town house in the heart of the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, complete with courtyard and fountain. Highlight is the perfect location, close to everything, but still quiet and peaceful.

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Corral del Conde 54 – This cute little apartment is in a remarkable 16th century housing complex built around a large communal courtyard. Greenery, wooden balconies, great Spanish atmosphere. Highlight must be the sense of living in the middle of the history of ordinary people.

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Giralda Terrace 1 – The pick of anybody’s bunch must be this spacious luxury studio with a private terrace. Just have a look at that view of the Giralda. And it comes with complimentary flowers and bottle of wine, too.

Valentine’s Day in Seville and Granada

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Friday week will be Saint Valentine’s Day, so unless you’re Al Capone and have other things on your mind, your thoughts should be turning to romance, a candlelit dinner, and maybe a nice bottle of wine. You could do all that at home of course, but there’s still time to organise a romantic getaway for two. And what could be sweeter than a long weekend in Seville or Granada in southern Spain, home of flamenco, exotic palaces and great food and wine?

becquer monumentdetail of monument dedicated to Gustav Bécquer in Maria Luisa Park, Seville

Explore the Palaces and Gardens of the Alhambra or Alcázar

The palaces of the Alhambra (Granada) and Alcázar (Seville) both date mainly from the 14th century, and though the first was built by the Moors, and the second by Christians, they share many of the same exotic features, with horseshoe arches, pools and fountains, and dazzling ceramic decoration. Be swept off your feet by this Arabian Nights visual feast.

Parks and Carriage Rides

Apart from the Palace Gardens, there are some other exceptional green spots. In Seville stroll through the Murillo Gardens over to the magnificent Plaza de España, but more especially go to the Parque Maria Luisa. It was laid out for the 1929 Expo and full of little grottoes and other surprises, such as the monument to Sevillano poet Gustav Becquer featuring the three stages of love. You can even take a carriage ride for two from the centre. In Granada visit the Carmen de los Martires, or take a walk along the picturesque River Darro.

Arab Baths and Massage

Go on, pamper yourself! Both Seville and Granada have their own Arab baths, the Baños Arabes in Seville and the Hammam baths in Granada, where you can enjoy the full bath and massage treatment at the hands of experts.

Eating Out

Few things beat taking some time out on a pavement terrace with a glass of wine and just watching the world go by, or having a bite at one of the great tapas bars in Seville, such as Las Teresas or Vineria San Telmo. Don’t miss the jamón and sherry, the taste of Spain. For a romantic evening dinner try Becerrita or Sevilla’s only Michelin star restaurant Abantal. In Granada La Tana wine bar is a cosy intimate spot to stop for a drink and a snack, perhaps finishing with a late dinner at the elegant Puerta del Carmen.

alegria flamencoflamenco performance at the Flamenco Museum in Seville

Flamenco

There are plenty of places where you can catch the passion of a flamenco performance, but beware. Not all of them are good. In Seville the shows we like best are at the Flamenco Dance Museum and Casa de la Guitarra. In Granada, head out to the famous Sacramonte Caves for a rather different style.

Cocktails

At the end of the day you’ll want to find somewhere special for that last drink and remembering the day. There are quite a few good rooftop bars around these days, but in Seville the Doña Maria Hotel bar with its view of the cathedral is still the place to go. In Granada, head up to El Huerto de Juan Ranas next to the San Nicolas lookout on the Albaicin hill for a spectacular view of the Alhambra across the valley.

Where to Stay

There are lots of great apartments at reasonable prices to choose from, but our favourite romantic getaway choices include, in Seville, the gorgeous view from Giralda Terrace, and Campanario Terrace for its unusual location. In Granada, Duplex Terrace overlooking the Plaza Nueva is unbeatable. For something more exotic try Sacramonte Cueva 2.