Lying in the Duero valley on the banks of River Tormes, not far from the Portuguese border, Hacienda Zorita is a huge, ancient, sandstone building, a former monastery, well settled into its surroundings. Enter the estate through the tall, stone gate posts with vineyards on one side and corn fields on the other. Huge trees, well-kept grass and espalier vines line the entrance to the reception block, wine shop and parking.
From the bag attendant and rapid check-in to the centuries old local stone buildings Hacienda Zorita is a delight. Welcoming and super comfortable with ample, homely lounge areas, modern and antique furnishings, original wooden roof beams and oozing plenty of charm.
Staying at Hacienda Zorita
Couples and families with older children fill the relaxed outdoor dining areas, sunbathe in the gardens and dip in the long, shallow pools. Preparations for a weekend wedding are busily underway – no other guests are booked in when such events are being held, we´ll have long gone by then. Grassy areas with mature trees, lots of shade, glistening river and ancient water mill, now a spa, an old church hosting 16th century works of art, and beer barrels, stable blocks now suites, it is a charming location and ideal for wedding photos. It´s a popular destination for celebrities worldwide.
Hacienda Zorita´s History
Its use for hospitality dates back to 1336, when the Hacienda was donated to the Dominican Order by Doña Inés de Limoges with the hope of releasing her husband´s soul from purgatory. The monks provided accommodation and food from their hands on work on the estate to visiting professors to Salamanca University and many other travellers.
Staying at Hacienda Zorita
The rooms with ancient thick walls measured by the metre and views across the lawn or river enchant. From original floors to the ancient oak beams the bedrooms merge old and new seamlessly in the main building. The suites are in the old stable blocks with a choice of Standard rooms, Deluxe rooms, Deluxe with terraces, Villas, Deluxe villas and Signature Suites – 40 in total.
My room, Number 13, off one of the hand-painted corridors and near the second floor lounge with its terrace overlooking the hotel gardens, pools and spa. My view was over the restaurant garden and spill way at the back. The enormous and very comfortable bed, large bathroom with his and her sink were fabulously clean. My only murmur was a shower over the bath, having to step into the bath wouldn´t be a possibility for everyone.
Comb, soap, hairnet accessories are packaged in paper and shower gel and shampoo in refillable bottles, no plastic here.
Dining at Hacienda Zorita
We chose to dine in on both nights of our stay, after being surprised and impressed by the innovative menu, dining outdoors with bird song and running water on our first night. It´s all very casually elegant, formal dress not required, unless you want to of course. The Restaurant has an excellent menu of home-grown meat and vegetables, also home-made cheeses and sausages from their (300 hectare) organic farm or as local as possible. The Hacienda was the first hotel in the area to adopt the ´slow food´ approach.
The wine list is mainly Hacienda Zorita wines, and other excellent local choices – it was all extremely reasonable for an upmarket hotel.
A two-table buffet breakfast was included in our stay with produce from the hotel´s farm, jamon, cheese, beef jerky, fresh orange juice, coffee machines that work and aren´t too complicated and freshly cooked bacon and eggs to your liking – if wanted.
Head to Salamanca
Just ten minutes by car to the historical ´Golden city´ of Salamanca makes it an ideal location to stay for visiting the city, and others around. Although the easy-to-relax-in manor house is hard to leave. Enjoy the service, views, décor and ambiance with a quick dip in the two long pools if needed. Shade is abundant and peace reigns in the grounds.
Historical Hacienda
Christopher Colombus stayed here in1487 for around six months and during his stay managed to convince the Catholic Kings of the viability of his dream to sail to the Indies. The funds to do so were not available until five years later when the Catholic Kings were victorious over the Moors in Granada.
In the grounds of the Hacienda there are four giant Sequoia trees, the tallest in Europe, grown from seeds which Christopher Columbus brought back from his new world travel.
See my review of Hacienda Zorita on Luxury Spain Travel.
