Hotel Fontecruz Sevilla Seises

Despite being set in Santa Cruz, in the heart of Seville's old town, Los Seises by Fontecruz has a modern finish. The lobby floors are black marble, and the white-washed walls are decorated with photos of Hollywood actors. More traditional-style gilt-framed paintings are also scattered through the hotel, and the essence of the restored 16th-century building also shows in architectural details such as arched hallways and elegant brocade chairs. The juxtaposition of old and new is most apparent in the breakfast room, where contemporary metal-framed windows stretch from floor-to-ceiling, beside original stone pillars and arches. It's a busy hotel and there's a steady stream of guests visiting for both business and leisure, but the atmosphere remains quiet and classy.

Hotel Fontecruz is located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the old town district of Santa Cruz. There are restaurants and bars scattered around the surrounding cobblestone streets, especially along Calle Argote de Molina, which leads to Seville Cathedral -- a three-minute walk away. It's a five-minute walk south of the hotel to the Alcazar, the ninth-century palace complex, and five minutes north to the city's top shopping area on Calle Sierpes. The distinctive Metropol Parasol structure and its superb viewing point, is a 10-minute walk away, and the Museum of Fine Art is slightly farther (15 minutes on foot). The old town is notoriously hard for driving and parking due to its tiny one-way streets, but there are public car parks within a five-minute walk. Prado de San Sebastian, the nearest metro station, is a 15-minute walk, and buses to the airport can be caught there. The trip takes about an hour by bus, or 20 minutes by taxi. It's a 10- to 15-minute drive to Seville's main rail station, Santa Justa.

Rooms have a contemporary style that's created in part by chic monochrome decor and pops of rich red or purple in the velvet curtains. In keeping with the common areas, a mix of traditional and modern artwork adds character, and some rooms have original stone arches or pillars. Otherwise, the decor is modern and minimalist, and old Hollywood images sit alongside traditional tile-work accents. Standard features include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, safes, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Junior Suites add a larger sitting area, and these -- plus Deluxe Rooms -- usually have small balconies or terraces. It is worth noting that the city-center location doesn't translate to overwhelming peace and quiet, and the cathedral's hourly bells are audible in most rooms. Bathrooms are nicely finished with mosaic-tiled floors, modern counter-top basins, showers, toiletries, and hairdryers. Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites add bathrobes/slippers and shower/tub combos.

The Hotel Fontecruz Seville, though small and set on one of the city's narrow streets, has a good amount of open space and areas for kicking back. The ground-floor dining room has a pretty shaded garden terrace, plus a bar, and serves a buffet breakfast that includes eggs. There's also a great rooftop terrace with amazing views of the cathedral. It features a second bar, sofas and table seating, and gas-heaters for chilly evenings. The rooftop includes an outdoor pool that's large by city standards, plus a decked area with more table seating and sun loungers. There's an event room with capacity for 150 people, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Fridges in the hallways provide free chilled water for guests, and other useful features include laundry service, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk.