The Santa Catalina – a Royal Hideaway Hotel – by Barceló is a benchmark for classic elegance and luxury, thanks to the preservation and renovation of its historical spaces and the many works of art housed within its walls.
With spring now in full swing, it’s time to put upcoming trips and escapes from the city on the calendar. A good idea could be the Canary Islands and, in particular, a stay at the Santa Catalina – a Royal Hideaway Hotel – by Barceló (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria); a unique hotel where one can admire local art while immersing oneself in a five-star experience. The hotel is located in the heart of the Doramas Park, amidst fountains, sculptures, numerous flowers and endemic plants. Its privileged location, with a connection to the historical centre and close to the golden sandy beach of Las Canteras, has made it an icon of the city where one can spend afternoons sunbathing on the promenade or practising sports on the pier, with an average temperature of 22°, all year round. The Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, began its operation in 1890, hosting over the years great celebrities and illustrious personalities, such as the royal family or actors of the calibre of Brad Pitt. The hotel has been a social and cultural stage in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for more than a century, becoming a true emblem of the city.
Architecture and Art
The Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is the oldest hotel in operation in the Canary Islands and is a benchmark for classic elegance and luxury. It stands out as one of the most significant examples of the regionalist architecture movement in the city in the 20th century, thanks to the conservation and rehabilitation of historical structures and spaces and the numerous works of art housed, most of which belong to the legacy of Canarian artist Jesús Arencibia.
A sanctuary of relaxation
The spa at the Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is distinguished, among other things, by its wonderful open-air location, which guarantees a continuous exchange of fresh air, an ideal place to relax and at the same time enjoy the island’s privileged climate. Let’s start with the hydrotherapy pool heated to 30°C, whose various pressurised jets relieve muscle tension. After this, you can take a dip in the whirlpool bath, which, in addition to ridding you of toxins and preventing anxiety, stress and insomnia, provides a feeling of general well-being. The circuit then offers three different types of saunas in which to relax: the Finnish sauna at 80°C, the bio-sauna at 60°C and the Turkish bath at 45°C, faithful allies when it comes to expelling impurities after bathing in sea water during the summer. Finally, the shower circuit includes an aromatic shower, a shower with a bucket of ice water, a bi-thermal shower and a final one with a tropical rain effect and ice fountains. Its contrasting pools, with a frigidarium at 13°C and a caladrium at 35°C, are undoubtedly a guest favourite.
Starred gastronomy
At the Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, haute cuisine is one of the central themes of the stay, so much so that its restaurant Poemas by Hermanos Padrón has again this year been awarded the MICHELIN Star (first received in last year’s edition, in the MICHELIN Spain & Portugal Guide). This is the first ‘star’ in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The restaurant was inspired by local artist Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre’s Poema de los Elementos project, a premise that led chefs Juan Carlos and Jonathan Padrón to transfer the essence of this pictorial work into dishes that stand out, not only for their flavour, but also for their presentation. The restaurant offers avant-garde cuisine, with a fusion of international and Canarian ingredients in which the KM0 product is the protagonist, creating authentic works of art for the palate. Customers can enjoy an immersive gastronomic experience through a tasting menu or à la carte dishes. A signature cuisine, both local and cosmopolitan, where simplicity, technique and innovation are the protagonists in the dishes.
Barceló Hotel Group,
Barceló Hotel Group, the hotel division of the Barceló Group, is the second largest hotel chain in Spain and one of the 30 largest in the world by number of rooms, and was recognised as the ‘World’s Best Management Company’ in the latest edition of the World Travel Awards, considered the Oscars of tourism. It currently has more than 270 4- and 5-star urban and holiday hotels, with a total of more than 60,000 rooms, distributed in 24 countries and marketed under four brands: Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels & Resorts, Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Occidental Hotels & Resorts and Allegro Hotels. It is also part of the Crestline Hotels & Resorts group, an independent hotel company with 130 properties in the United States.
