| Gran Hotel La Florida is a Noucentista style building in Northern Barcelona. The property is surrounded by its gardens and the natural vegetation of the Collserola Park. In 2001 the Gran Hotel La Florida was rescued from abandonment and completely refurbished, the antique decorative and structural elements of the old hotel were recuperated and the the natural environment was respected. The Hotel Florida was inaugurated in 1925 and was the realization of one man's dream, Dr. Andreu, who wanted to build Barcelona's best hotel in Barcelona's best location. The splendor, however, was not to last long. Like so many other things in Spanish life, the civil war took its toll on the hotel when it was used as a military hospital. Again mirroring Spanish society, from that point on the history of the building is a long and arduous one. Over the years the hotel passed from hand to hand, with differing levels of success. During the 1950's Hotel La Florida was the place of choice for Barcelona's high society serving mainly as a summer residence for wealthy Catalan families and was the unofficial hotel of Barcelona's football club. Over the years Ernest Hemingway, James Stewart, George Sanders, Rock Hudson, Princess Fabiola and the Prince of Belgium stayed in this prestigious hotel. One of the most unique aspects of the Gran Hotel La Florida is its perfect synthesis of tradition and modernity, the work of artisans combined with new technologies and materials. Within La Florida wrought iron and antique carpentry blend easily with stainless steel and glass. Moreover, the hotel features a large array of on-site facilities such as a restaurant, the Lobby Lounge Bar, the Miramar Bar with live chill-out music on the pool bar terrace, a beauty centre, health and spa facilities, gym and hairdresser among others. |
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