Check-in at La Casa del Presidente is done in what was Adolfo Suárez's office.
It is not always necessary to go to the end of the world to disconnect from everything and everyone. And the boutique hotel La Casa del Presidente (Calle Los Telares, 1), in Ávila, an hour's drive from the bustling capital, is the living proof of this. With only ten rooms, a swimming pool and vast gardens, delimited by the wall (declared a World Heritage Site), it is the ideal place to withdraw from the world and recharge your batteries.
Its charm and uniqueness also reside in the fact that this establishment is located in which was the summer residence of Adolfo Suárez González , from the 1970s to the 1990s, when Suárez had to mortgage the house to cover the expenses of the illnesses of his wife and his daughter Mariam. The property passed into the hands of the Ortega family, owner of the Fontecruz hotel group, and recently its president, Diego Ortega, has decided to turn it into a hotel, yes, keeping home concept.
Tables prepared under the porch of the boutique hotel La Casa del Presidente.
HISTORY AND COMFORT IN EQUAL PARTS
The architect Gustavo Vázquez and the interior design studio Ángel Studio and Late Motiv have opted for a classic decoration, in line with the wooden beams and shutters typical of Castilian mansions of the lower floor, as well as the stone hall that welcomes the guest (which has been preserved intact). Between its stone walls you can breathe the aftertaste of the past, being able to intuit in each of its rooms the historical milestones of which the property was undoubtedly a witness.
The pool and gardens of La Casa del Presidente are delimited by the Ávila wall.
Always on the ground floor are the social rooms of the hotel, with three fireplaces, Chester-type sofas and very special pieces among which are included original works of art, French furniture from the beginning of the 19th century or an oriental screen from the year 1,600.
Yes ok, the jewel of this area is the reception, located in what was the president's office, a room where Spanish democracy was probably forged, the foundations of the current Constitution were laid and it is believed that Adolfo Suárez met with Carrillo to negotiate the legalization of the Communist Party. The room is dominated by a large bookstore from the time of Suárez with a little secret door designed to facilitate your escape in an emergency.
Black and gray colors predominate in the elegant rooms of the La Casa del Presidente hotel.
As we go up to the upper floors, which house the ten rooms (two Deluxe, five Junior Suites and three Suites), the classic style is giving way to the modern. In the rooms – all with an aromatherapy bathtub and shower, Chopard amenities and a king-size bed – the mirrors take on great prominence, as well as the black and gray colors.
In addition, all the rooms have been baptized with different concepts that, for the property, represent the values on which the figure of Suárez was based and who still remain in the house: Life, Love, Joy, Freedom, Peace, Courage, Dialogue and Happiness, among others.
Bathroom of one of the ten rooms of the hotel La Casa del Presidente, in Ávila.
THE GASTRONOMIC OFFER
The dining room, located in the old kitchen of the house, is decorated with Talavera ceramic tiles and copperware. Both breakfast and dinner are offered here.
The first is served at the table and includes natural juices, freshly brewed coffee, artisanal jams, local sausages, cheeses from the Sierra de Gredos and the Tiétar valley, natural yogurts from Avila cows and a wide variety of artisanal buns and breads (five cereals, chia, revolconas, etc.) from Tahona del Sotillo, a workshop with more than 100 years old where they work with sourdoughs in all the elaborations that are milled, many of them, in a stone mill.
The full breakfast at La Casa del Presidente includes artisan breads and buns from the Tahona de Sotillo.
As far as the restaurant's menu is concerned, we find both typical dishes from the area and products from all over Spain or some fusion cuisine recipe.
Among all of them, we highlight the pink tomato with tuna belly from the Cantabrian Sea, the acorn-fed Iberian ham from Guijuelo, duck foie gras from Soria, marinated sardines from Santoña, artichoke hearts with quinoa and spinach, the Mexican tacos of cod, guacamole and red peppers, the duck confit, the revolconas potatoes with torreznos or the pot loin with glass peppers.
Complete the culinary proposal a small but studied winery –located in the basement of the house and that guests can visit– with wines from the area (from Cebreros, El Tiemblo and El Barraco), both classic and curious references from the country (among which stand out the monovarietals and blends of Pinot Noir from the Alta Pavina Valladolid winery) and some international labels (from France, Germany, Italy and California).
Duck foie from Soria in the restaurant of the hotel La Casa del Presidente.
IN CASE YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH THE WORLD AGAIN
On the very off chance that you want to reconnect with the world, during your mini-vacation, you can visit some of the most emblematic places of Ávila, such as the wall, the cathedral or the Basilica of San Vicente and stop to eat in one of the most recommended places to taste a good Avilanian veal steak: El Rincón del Jabugo.
This restaurant, with a terrace in summer, is located in the area outside the walls, on Calle San Segundo, next to the eastern wall and very close to the cathedral. The establishment It is owned by the famous ham cutter Floren Sanchidrián, therefore, acorn-fed ham is also one of its essentials.
Plate of marinated sardines from Santoña, in the restaurant of the hotel La Casa del Presidente, in Ávila.
The La Casa del Presidente hotel has maintained the appearance of a Castilian mansion.