La Ermita Suites

Rooms

Whilst the restored chapel of La Ermita de la Concepción acts as a grand entrance vestibule of this historic building, the guest suites were created within the adjacent living quarters of the sacristan and a second town house.

All six rooms are light and airy, with high ceilings, diaphanous linen curtains and street-facing windows. All-white walls and bedding are juxtaposed by patches of exposed stonework, with beautiful oak floors topped by coir rugs.

Aside from the Well Room (the smallest), there’s enough space in all rooms for sofas to be pulled out to create a second, double bed. Our favourite, the Terrace Suite – where we stayed, a huge treat – has a rooftop terrace facing the square, with outdoor sofas and a tiny decorative pool fed by a fountain. It has two separate bedrooms, each with a bathroom, so it’s ideal for families. We also liked the Arch Room for its views over the courtyard to the dramatic arch itself.

Bathrooms feature rain showers, Italian sinks set in long oak boards, and circular back-lit mirrors. Expect monogrammed towels, bathrobes and Karl Lagerfeld gel and shampoo.

For people of limited mobility, there's a fully adapted ground floor suite (Superior).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

The suites have their own kitchenettes, some hidden behind cupboard doors, with all you need for preparing simple meals, including fridge, cookware, cutlery and crockery, sink, hob and microwave (but no oven). Chances are you'll mainly use it for breakfasts or snacks.

Or if you're feeling lazy, you can pre-book a huge buffet breakfast (think brunch), served – for the time being - either in the pebbled courtyard or in the chapel. Ours was laid out on the altar: a quirkily sacrilegious experience, if slightly chilly in winter. In future, a dining room is planned for additional meals; and you can always order drinks and snacks in the courtyard.

Meantime, it's no hardship at all, as there are dozens of restaurants and cafés close by in the Jewish Quarter. For trad andaluz cusine head for Casa Pepe or El Churrasco. Closer to the hotel Bodegas Mezquita Ribera is known for its creative take on Spanish classics. A welcome addition to the food scene are several new bars and restaurants beside the Guadalquivir, close to the Mezquita.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Wander the narrow streets of the Juderia: visit the synagogue, the statue of Maimonedes in La Plaza de Tiberiades, then dip into the Casa de Sefarad where exhibitions dedicated to the Hispano-Jewish period often take place
• Book a night tour of the Mezquita. Exploring the great Mosque and Cathedral by night is an enchanting experience
  
• Another star of the Unesco-listed historic centre is Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, a medieval palace with fabulous gardens, once a residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
  
• Don’t miss Medina Azahara. This magnificent palace complex is often passed by – it’s a few kilometres out of town – yet this is one of the best preserved Moorish sites in Andalucia
  
• If you’re a lover of Art, stroll down to the Plaza del Potro to visit the Museo y Casa Natal de Julio Romero de Torres. His peculiarly andaluz paintings capture turn-of-century (19th/20th) life in Cordoba

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Kids are warmly welcomed here: the owners and staff are resolutely family friendly. Five suites can host a family of four using a double sofabed or, in the case of the Terrace Suite, a second bedroom. All can take a baby cot (at no charge). And having a kitchenette makes them ideal for couples travelling with a baby, with bottles and feeds to prepare.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

We think the Duplex and Terrace Suites are best for families of four, being the largest. The Superior, Column and Arch Suites are also ok at a squeeze. The Well Room works for a family of three, using an extra rollaway bed.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr25m (Malaga)
• Hospital: 16 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

La Ermita Suites are in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site in the historic centre of Córdoba. The hotel looks on to the beautiful Plaza de Abades square and is just a two minute walk from the Cathedral and the Mezquita.

By Air:
Seville (120km away), Málaga (170km away) and Granada (210km away) are the closest airports.

From the Airport
You can drive or take the train (see below).

By Car:
As a hotel guest you can drive into the Plaza de Abades, drop your luggage, before leaving your vehicle at a nearby car park for a per day charge (from EUR17.50). If you want a car while you're then see our car rental recommendations. Note that there’s limited traffic access to the historic centre – that’s to say residents and municipal vehicles only.

By Train:
High-speed trains link Córdoba with Seville, Madrid and Málaga, and the railway station is 2.2km (a 7-10-minute taxi ride) from the hotel. If you're coming from Málaga airport, local trains link the terminal with Málaga central station, where you can change onto a service to Córdoba. See Seat 61 for detailed information on getting to Córdoba by train, including directions for travelling overland from London.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.