Historic Hotels Worldwide, based in Washington DC, USA, is an institution that recognises historic hotels around the world. To be part of its collection, among other requirements, a hotel must be 75 years old or older, must be a former home of a famous person, or a significant place in relation to some event in history, and must display memorabilia, artwork, photographs and other examples of its historical importance. Therefore, 360 legendary hotels from all over the world are part of this collection, including former castles, palaces, academies, estates, villas, monasteries and other accommodation that are centuries old. Since 2021, the Hotel Hacienda de Abajo in the historic district of Tazacorte, on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, has been part of this collection. Well, this historic hotel has just received the Award of Excellence as the best historic hotel in Europe from Historic Hotels Worldwide.
The Hotel Hacienda de Abajo dates back to the end of the 15th century, when the first, oldest, richest and most productive sugar plantation on La Palma was established on the site. Since then, the various historical owners of the mansion and the land, thanks to the wealth they acquired through the international sugar trade, amassed a large collection of rare works of art and artefacts from both Europe and Asia. Amongst the works now on display in the hotel’s facilities are some of the finest historic tapestries from the Canary Islands, French and Flemish pieces from the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as a valuable gallery of works from the 15th to 20th centuries, European furniture from the 17th to 19th centuries, delicate religious carvings from the 16th to 19th centuries or Chinese items dating from the Tang to the Qing dynasty. In addition, the hotel’s numerous renovations have succeeded in preserving the historic buildings that make up the hotel.
As Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels Worldwide, points out, these hotels “they keep past history alive and make staying or celebrating special occasions (…) memorable experiences“. And he adds: “over the many decades that these buildings have seen, if not centuries, it is the care of their staff, owners and operators, as well as the support of travellers, that allows their stories to continue”.
Sources: Historic Hotels, Historic Hotels Hacienda de Abajo, Hotel Hacienda de Abajo.
V Hotel Hacienda de Abajo.
