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.