I’ve always been in love with the romantic eras, probably because I’ve always devoured books like Bridgerton and can’t stop watching The Gilded Age. Nevermind the fact that I would obviously be one of the servants…in my mind, I’m fancy, living the lifestyle of the rich and famous a hundred years ago. I like the idea of everyday glamor, evening dresses every day, hats and gloves. So when I get to stay in a mansion, it is a dream come true.
That chance came when I stayed at the Hotel Palacio Del Retiro in Madrid. A part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, it was just like stepping into the glamorous past of my dreams, but with all the modern conveniences you expect to find in 2023. The hotel has National Heritage status which means even the windows are original in some areas, along with marble staircases and a carriage entrance. They even have to use regular keys for the rooms, but that is part of the charm.
My room was the size of four average New York City hotel rooms. I’m not exaggerating. The floors were original wood and the windows overlooked a courtyard. It had modern conveniences with a large bathroom, mini-bar and TV, but the old world charm is what won me over. I was told that my room is where the home’s owner used to enjoy lunch. Considering the space and the views, I cannot blame him!
There are elevators in the building, but I used the stairs (except when moving my luggage) because coming down the carpeted spiral staircase made me feel like a queen. The neighborhood is incredibly safe and the mansion sits across the street from El Retiro Park, a large city park and UNESCO World Heritage site that was the exclusive property of the Spanish king up ‘til 1868.
Let me tell you about this park. I assumed it was a typical Central Park situation, and it does have elements that are the same, like trees and grass—y’know, the basics—but there is much more here, including peacocks. Yes, there’s a whole peacock area of the park. The birds just wander around looking like the kings that used to own them, and to be honest, they kind of are. The peacocks are not alone; they share this area with feral cats that roam free. These cats are cared for, spayed or neutered (Bob Barker would be so proud), and kept track of in the park. They seem to coexist in peace. There’s also a rose garden and a glass palace from the 1880s that’s styled on London’s Crystal Palace.
If the natural beauty of Madrid’s nicest park isn’t enough for you, art museums, including the world renowned Prado, are within walking distance. The lines at the Prado can be prohibitively long though, so if you’re interested in visiting you should look into skip-the-line tickets. After all, if you’re paying to go to a museum, you’d rather spend your time looking at art and not the backs of the people in line in front of you.
Another experience I would highly recommend is a visit to the Corral de la Moreria for dinner and a flamenco show. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t what I saw. The musicians, particularly the vocalists, sang in a sorrowful, heartbreaking tone. I would describe their mode of performance as almost wailing, and although it was beautiful, it made me want to cry. The dancers are top notch at this well known establishment. You are not going to find a more authentic show in town. It is where royals go; in fact, the Prince of Denmark was seen leaving a show here around the time I visited.
I spend quite a bit of time traveling alone, and I can say that Madrid is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited, and not once did I feel unsafe. Whether you want to stay at a palace next to a park built for kings and queens, or spend your Spanish vacation in a luxury hotel run by a world famous brand, Madrid is worth adding to your bucket list.
Keri Lumm is a professional chatterbox who loves watching TV & movies, reading about pop culture, and gawking at any craziness on the internet. You can follow Keri on Twitter.