Recreation palaces: 8 royal residences that have become hotels

Many royal residences today have dropped their old signs to become hotels and take ordinary people like you and me under their arches. In each of them, the guest is greeted as a person of blue blood. Here you can live truly with royal dignity, feeling the mysterious and romantic atmosphere of the past.

The Amalfi coast of the Sorrento Peninsula in Southern Italy was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1997. Its true gem is the fishing town of Positano, which descends to the sea from the slopes of the mountains in terraces. It was here that the summer residence of Joachim Murat was located — the king of Naples, the famous Marshal Napoleon, who was also his son-in-law. Now the magnificent building of this palace is occupied by the Palazzo Murat Hotel.

Stone carvings of door and window openings, mosaic tiles and luxurious wooden furniture remind of the former greatness. The hotel's swimming pool has been preserved almost in its original form.

Unlike other hotels located on the rocky side of Positano, Palazzo Murat is located within walking distance from the historical center of the city. Its guests do not need to overcome a steep climb to reach the beach. However, the views of the ocean here are not so exciting.

In the distant past, the Culloden Estate Hotel & Spa was the residence of the Irish bishops in Belfast. Now it is one of the most beautiful hotels in all of Northern Ireland. It is located a 10-minute drive from the city center, but at the same time there are about four hectares of gardens around, which provide a stunning view from the window.

The hotel was opened in 1876 and completely renovated in 2012. However, its furnishings still retain traces of former luxury. The rooms are furnished with expensive furniture in a traditional English style. The hotel is famous for spa and wellness treatments far beyond the borders of its native Ireland.

The romance and relaxing atmosphere of this place make it extremely attractive for couples in love and newlyweds, for whom it is, in fact, designed.

The Grand Hotel Baglioni can be safely called a revived picture from the past of Florence, which is not surprising, because it is located in the former residence of the princes of Carrega Bertolini, and its own history dates back more than a hundred years.

There are almost 200 rooms here, and they are all very spacious, which, by the way, is quite unusual for historical buildings. The luxurious furnishings retain a touch of antiquity: the furniture is designed in a classic style, the ceilings and floors are finished with black wood, lead bindings have been preserved on the windows, the bathrooms are shining white, the interiors are decorated with paintings and frescoes.

The roof garden and Terrazza Brunelleschi restaurant offer stunning views of Florence: the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the bell tower of Giotto. Staying here is not a cheap pleasure, but the convenient location and luxurious atmosphere can attract not only those who like to show off, this is really a very popular hotel among travelers.

The Esencia Hotel is located next to the Mexican resort town of Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya coastal strip of the Caribbean Sea — a place of pilgrimage for divers from all over the world. Initially, the territory of the hotel belonged to an Italian duchess, by whose will a mansion in a Mediterranean style, distinguished by simplicity and elegance, appeared in the lush tropics.

The private atmosphere of the hotel is due to the small number of guests scattered over a large territory: there are only 29 rooms in two-story buildings on 29 hectares. It offers visitors-fully customized iPods, toiletries from the famous brand Molton Brown, individual pools, a spa and a restaurant of national cuisine Sal y Fuego.

The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel is located in the former palace of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. To this day, it remains one of the main attractions of Istanbul, which successfully compensates for its location away from famous tourist routes.

The royal building was converted into a hotel in 1980. Now the hotel amazes its guests with a combination of oriental luxury and European comfort: neatly trimmed lawns, an endless heated swimming pool right on the shore of the Bosphorus, relaxing spa treatments, an exquisite menu and spacious conference rooms.

Perhaps this is not the most luxurious hotel in the world, but it is clearly not designed for an ordinary tourist. Ciragan Palace Kempinski is a good choice for holding a memorable wedding or successful business negotiations.

The Palacio de Villapanes Hotel was built at the beginning of the XVIII century for a noble family in the Spanish city of Seville. It is located in a secluded corner of the historical center of the city, near the main attractions: the Pilate's House Palace, the cathedral, the Seville Alcazar palace complex.

The hotel has 50 rooms, elegantly decorated in a modern style. They carefully preserved the original architectural details: stucco on the walls, intricate coffered ceilings, carved doors.

The rooms are equipped with the latest technology up to the mandatory free Wi-Fi in hotels of this level today. It is unlikely that the first owners of the building could have imagined that scientific progress would step so far! The rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views is also popular with guests.

Ashford Castle with its multi-caliber turrets and heavy stone facade is a reference Irish castle. It is located on a promontory washed by the waters of the lake, which not only corresponds to the canons of fortification, but also gives the entire landscape an unusually picturesque appearance.

The castle was built in the XIII century and passed from one noble family to another many times, until finally a luxury hotel was located here. However, truly aristocratic entertainment is still available today, such as falconry, boating on the lake, golf, archery and plate shooting.

The huge rooms of the hotel are beautifully decorated with wood and antique furniture. The festive atmosphere implies a strict dress code for lunch and dinner.

The Palazzo Caracciolo is located in the historical center of Naples and once belonged to its king. Today, the owner of the luxury building has become a chain of prestigious hotels MGallery.

Neither the stylish and modern interior, dominated by white and silver colors, nor modern technical equipment contradict the palace architecture at all.

Many visitors of the hotel really like the inner gallery, where it is so pleasant to spend the evening. There is also a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine.