Tumbling through Casa Aldomar’s ancient door from Xàtiva’s serpentine cobbled streets, you feel like Alice stepping through the looking glass. The honking and clattering outside gives way to gentle jazz and blues music, which lilts over this 18th-century home and onetime silk factory, now transformed into a tasteful guesthouse by owners Ian and Josechu.
Original features remind you that you’re in one of Spain’s most historic towns, second city of the medieval kingdom of Valencia and still an important crossroads between North and South. A huge fireplace dominates the open-plan entrance hall, dining room and sitting area, where you can commune over a game of backgammon, sip a drink from the honesty bar or leaf through a book. The backdrop is minimalist yet textural: white walls and pale concrete floors, with cowhide rugs, beachcombed shells and a vintage bike propped up in one corner. Up the steep stone stairs, the 5 simple yet comfortable guest rooms are spread over 3 levels, interspersed by 2 communal terraces. Here, in the shadow of the domed cathedral, deckchairs and an array of succulent plants create little sanctuaries where friendships between guests are frequently forged.
Highs
- A plum location in untouristy Xàtiva, an hour south of Valencia and home to a magnificent castle. It's only a 50-minute drive from the beaches of the Costa Blanca, too
- A relaxed ambiance (be as social or as private as you want), with friendly yet discreet service
- The bijou, succulent-lined terraces, which gaze out over the dome-topped cathedral nearby
- Plenty of thoughtful touches: stacks of books and games, umbrellas by the front door, a chalk board with the daily weather forecast
- Fantastic value for money
Lows
- No children under 7 (a high for some)
- Breakfast is the only meal served and isn't included in the rate, but there are plenty of restaurants on the surrounding streets
- Rooms are fairly simple (no TVs or iPod docks), but they're very comfortable
- No parking. If you’re lucky you’ll bag a spot on the nearby square, otherwise it's every man for himself
- Note the restricted check-in times
Best time to go
We recommend visiting in spring or autumn, as the mercury can tip into the upper 30s in the peak of summer (though rooms are air-conditioned). Winters are cooler, so pack your woollies. In March, Xàtiva celebrates a pocket-sized and much more manageable version of Valencia's famous festival of Las Fallas, when giant papier-mâché statues are set alight and fireworks let off.
Our top tips
The local area is famous for its glass making, with plenty of artisan shops to browse. We bought some beautiful rustic tumblers to take home.
Xàtiva and other local towns were built for horses and carts rather than modern vehicles, and the streets can get eye-wateringly narrow. Hire a small car!
Xàtiva and other local towns were built for horses and carts rather than modern vehicles, and the streets can get eye-wateringly narrow. Hire a small car!
- Boutique Guesthouse
- 5 rooms
- Breakfast only (restaurants nearby)
- Ages 7+ welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
Fresh and uncluttered with shuttered windows, the 5 rooms are enlivened by unique collections of decorative accessories, together with coffee-table books, rustic textiles and fresh flowers. They’re arranged over 3 floors, reached by narrow staircases.
We stayed in the Suite, which has a double/twin bedroom, a separate living area (with sofabed), a writing desk and a window onto the lower terrace. The newly refurbished bathroom has a large, pebble-lined shower, a broad sink and Zara toiletries. The other rooms are all standard Doubles, also with ensuite shower bathrooms. The top 2 rooms, where silkworms were once kept for the weaving below, have sloping ceilings and low windows. They're the quietest and ideal for light sleepers, though the house stands on a street so narrow it barely gets any traffic bar the most daring of trucks, so all rooms are fairly peaceful.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- WiFi
Eating
The dining room sits at the back of the entrance hall, with a large roof lantern to illuminate the eclectic mixture of vintage finds and upcycled IKEA furniture. If you choose to have breakfast at the hotel (at an extra cost) it is an unhurried affair: help yourself to manchego cheese, local honey and an assortment of delicious and unusual jams (flavours like kiwi, and tomato and cinnamon) made by Ian’s mother-in-law, while freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, bread and pastries are brought to your table.
During the day and evening you’re welcome to help yourself to the (very reasonably priced) honesty bar on the landing next to the larger of the terraces.
For lunch and dinner, you only need to step out into the street to find countless options. Ian and Josechu will happily steer you with their extensive knowledge, booking tables and tailoring suggestions to your taste. Favourite spots include El Túnel just 200m away, which serves excellent rice dishes, and laid-back café Terrassa Sant Josep, set just below the castle.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- It’s a short walk up to the castle (one of the region’s best), where you can see a rich patchwork of historical remains dating back to Roman, Carthaginian and Moorish times. Hannibal is famously rumoured to have passed through with his elephants
- Xàtiva also encompasses a beautiful cathedral, the 13th- and 14th-century churches of Sant Feliu and Sant Pere, and the house where Pope Alexander VI was born
- Hit the coast, a 50-minute drive away - Ian and Josechu can recommend hidden beaches away from the crowds
- The local area is home to a new wave of vineyards whose wines are hotly anticipated by those in the know. Ian and Josechu can organise guided tours and tastings
- Hikes thread into the stunning countryside, with some routes straight from the door - just ask for suggestions
- Take a day trip to the regional capital, Valencia (50 minutes by car or train), to see its Gothic old town, UNESCO-listed La Lonja (silk exchange), modernist Mercado Central (Europe’s largest covered market) and cutting-edge Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts & Sciences)
- The enchanting hilltop village of Bocairent is also well worth a visit
- Back at Casa Aldomar, play board games, read one of the many books scattered around, and star-gaze using the small telescope on the upper terrace
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Wine tasting
Kids
Kids aged 7+ years are welcome, but the tranquil atmosphere is best suited to grown-ups. If you do bring children, the first-floor suite (bedroom + double sofabed) lends itself best to families. Most other rooms can take a rollaway bed but there are no baby cots.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Casa Aldomar is in the centre of Xàtiva (also spelled Jativa). It’s 55km from Valencia, just inland from the Costa Blanca.
By Air:
The closest airports are Valencia (70km) and Alicante (112km) - click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.
By Train:
Frequent trains connect Xàtiva and Valencia in 50 minutes. The station is 1km from the hotel.
By Car:
Xàtiva is an easy drive along the A7 from either Valencia or Alicante, though bear in mind that parking can be tricky. If you want to hire a car, see our car-rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Valencia and the Costa Blanca and getting around
Airports:
- Valencia 70.0 km VLC
- Alicante 112.0 km ALC
Other:
- Beach 50.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape