2 Best Hotels in El Arenal and Parque Maria Luisa, Andalusia

Inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1929 when he visited the World's Fair, this grand hotel next to the university is a splendid, historic, Mudejar-style palace, built around a central patio and surrounded by ornate brick arches. Classic meets modern throughout the hotel, which has been graciously restored over the years. Public rooms have marble floors, wood-panel ceilings, heavy Moorish lamps, stained glass, and ceramic tiles in typical Seville colors. The hotel has three restaurants and the elegant Bar Alfonso. If you can't afford a room in Seville's most emblematic hotel, you can still enjoy the sumptuous surroundings while sipping an ice-cold fino from the bar that overlooks the fabulous Moorish-style courtyard.

Originally opened for 1929's Ibero-American Exposition, this classic hotel retains many original features, including a marble staircase leading up to a central lobby crowned by a magnificent stained-glass dome and crystal chandelier. Each floor celebrates a different Spanish artist, with reproduction paintings set against an artful combination of period and contemporary design. Downstairs is the toreador-theme Burladero tapas bar and restaurant, which is packed midday with local business executives. The luxurious spa on the seventh floor offers a range of treatments.