The UNESCO-listed historic centre of the Mexican city of Queretaro, about 2 hours north of Mexico City, is a treasure house of New World baroque architecture, of which the chief secular jewel is the Casa de la Marquesa.
The façade of the Casa de la Marquesa.
Built in the mid-18C as an aristocratic residence, it’s now run as an elegant boutique hotel. I didn’t stay there, but I went for a meal in the excellent restaurant.
Hotel: Pestana Palacio do Freixo, also known as the Pousada do Porto.
Address: Estrada Nacional 108, 4300, Campanha, Porto, Porto e Norte, Portugal (about 4km from the centre of Porto).
Website: http://www.pestana.com/en/hotel/freixo-palace/
Rating: Excellent.
The most famous facade of the Palacio do Freixo.
I stayed at the Palacio for one night at the beginning of April, 2016. Run by Pestana Hotels, the Palacio is classified as a national monument, and is also a member of Portugal’s national association of pousadas.
Reception: The check-in process was very smooth. As soon as I entered the lobby, I was ushered to a comfortable chair in front of the reception desk in a chamber next to the Moorish lobby. Although the formalities took only a few minutes, I was served a small glass of port. The young man who had first greeted me at the door also showed me to my room. This was a nice touch and probably necessary because the layout of the Palacio is complicated.
Flower arrangement in the Moorish lobby. Reception is to the left.
