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Briñas, a village right on the boundary between Alava and Rioja, having
an aristocratic past, there are some Houses with shields of Arms as well
as untouched squares and churches that go far back into the 16th
century. Among them there is a superb small palace from the 18th century
that was misused during the Spanish civil war as the Headquarters of the
Italian troops. Nowadays it is a small hotel which still has all its
splendour and nobility from the past years.
Pedro Ortega, devoted to bring old buildings back into life, and Ángela
Gómez have been working thoroughly on this house and have chosen to
combine its stone and adobe inner rooms with old and antique furniture
from different styles and with earthen ware, esparto grass carpets and
fresco and wall paintings by the Polish Artist Jull Dziamski.
Each room is different, the pieces of antique furniture found in them
combined with Jull’s paintings on the walls, plus the large size of the
rooms and their immaculate cleanliness, all provide the feeling that you
could not ask for anything with more savour and comfort.
Pedro, the owner, personally tends to his Hospederia with the help
of his wife. Before, he used to work restoring antique furniture, so
evidently he knows quite a bit about them... Would not be a bad idea to
ask for his advice if you are interested in buying antiques or need some
counselling in restoration.
Particularly interesting to mention is the wine tasting offered in the
underground cellar of the Palace.
They do not have a restaurant, only breakfast or a little snack at the
bar is possible here. However, there are several restaurants, which are
located in nearby towns, such as: “Restaurante Tony” in San Vicente, “La
Vieja Bodega” in Casalareina or “Echaurren” in Ezcaray. |
