Hotel Casa Grande
Jerez de la Frontera
This extremely well-kept and lovely hotel is right in the old centre of the gorgeous town of Jerez de la Frontera, on a romantic square surrounded by palm trees.
As the name suggests, Hotel Casa Grande is established in a townhouse, dating back to the 1920s. Spaciously laid out, with high ceilings, large rooms and a vast roof terrace. The friendly German owner, Monika, clearly has everything in order here, the building, the reception desk, the patio, and the rooms, of course, everything looks in outstanding shape.
All 15 rooms open out onto the balustrade around a bright patio. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, heating, TV and are all very spacious. Downstairs you will find a bar where guests can enjoy a drink and catch up, and you can have breakfast on the patio. The hotel only serves breakfast, also because there are many cosy restaurants at walking distance that you can visit at night. When you have tired of strolling through the town, you can head up to the roof terrace, put your feet up, enjoy a nice refreshing beverage and catch a few sunrays.
Our conclusion: a lovely hotel at an excellent central location in the town, where the guest is quite clearly number 1.
Cons:
• City hotel, i.e. inevitable city noises
Pros:
• Very well-maintained hotel
• Ideally located for visits to the town of Jerez
• Situated very smartly on a square with palm trees
• Attentive and friendly staff
Hotel Casa Grande
facilities
Hotel
- There is no restaurant where you can have lunch or dinner.
- Bar.
- Large roof terrace with seating areas.
- Salon with internet connection.
- Library.
- Children are welcome.
- One room with wheelchair access.
- Lift.
- Pets are not welcome.
- The hotel offers a range of different excursions/activities.
- On-street parking or parking in nearby car park.
- Hotel is situated in the centre of Jerez, on the Plaza de las Angustias.
Rooms
Spacious rooms. Every room has air conditioning, heating, TV and a safe.
Large bathrooms, equipped with bathtub and hairdryer.
Hotel has a total of 15 rooms, including 4 single rooms, 9 double rooms and 2 junior suites.
Hotel Casa Grande
surrounding area
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez is the sherry capital of the world. A tour of one of its bodegas (Sandeman, Pedro Domecq, Gonzalez Byass) is not only good fun, but you will also learn something, like distinguishing Fino from Amontillado and Oloroso sherry.
Jerez is also famous for its horse riding school, the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Escuestre. Visitors can attend both shows and lessons here.
The San Mateo quarter is famous for its flamenco bars, and is also where you will find the official flamenco centre: Centro Andaluz de Flamenco.
The Alcázar is one of the few monuments that the Almohades left behind in Andalucía. The partly renovated 12th-century Alcázar houses a well-preserved mosque, which is now used as a church. Just north you will find the Catedral del Salvador, with an interesting feature in the sacristy, Zurbarán’s The Sleeping Girl.
Other sights include the inviting cafes on the Plaza Asunción and the old town hall from 1575, Casa de Cabildo Viejo.
Active
There are plenty of options in the area if you want to be more active, like playing a round of golf, horse riding, walking and cycling.
Family
Jerez’s zoo is one of the best ones in Andalucía. It has over 400 animal species on show.
The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is also a real must.
You can also head down to Cádiz to see its centre from a horse-drawn carriage. These set off from the Plaza de San Juan de Dios.
Between Cádiz and El Puerto de Santa María you will find the Aqua Sherry water park with 17 different slides.
Nature
From Jerez you can also visit the Parque Nacional de Coto Doñana.
The Parque Nacional de Coto Doñana on the other side of the water can be reached by boat from Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
This park is one of Europe’s largest swamp lands. This area is especially important for birds. Over 250 bird species have been spotted here, half of which come here to over-winter, such as the spoonbill, stork and the particular favourite of most visitors, the flamingo.
The best time of year to visit this park is winter or spring. In the summer and autumn the swamps are dry, although that is when visitors get excited about spotting deer, boar, buffalos and otters. With a good guide and some luck, you might even spot a lynx.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Sanlúcar de Barrameda (26km; 35min):
Its location on the Guadalquivir estuary made Sanlúcar de Barrameda an important port. This is where Columbus and Magellan embarked on a number of their expeditions.
The Spanish know Sanlúcar as the home of manzanilla, a distinct type of sherry. The old town on the hill (barrio alto) is more interesting and has far more charm than the modern district down on the coast. This is also where you will find the Bodegas Barbadillo.
The heart of the barrio alto is the pleasant Plaza del Cabildo square, which is lined with palm trees, cafes, restaurants, outdoor bars en the 18th-century town hall. Sanlúcar also has a few fine palaces and churches, such as the mudejar-style Palacio de los Duques de Medina Sidonia and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la O, which dates back to 1360.
Arcos de la Frontera (33km; 45min):
Arcos is one of Andalucía’s finest little towns; it often serves as a base from which to explore the pueblos blancos (white villages); its entire medieval centre has been declared a Historic Monument. In Arcos you should just stroll around its cobblestone streets, past small whitewashed houses, its many squares and its patios. Arcos’ oldest building is the Castillo, a dilapidated castle that is strategically situated on top of the hill. From the town walls you have a great view of the Guadalete valley. Other sights include the churches Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción, Iglesia de los Jesuitas and the Iglesia de San Pedro.
The town hall, the ayuntamiento on the Plaza de Cabildo, is also worth a visit because of its fine mudejar-style ceilings.
Cádiz (41km; 40min):
The modern part of Cádiz is a busy port. A visit to this city would not be complete without a walk along the quays. The old town is contained by fortifications that rise up from the sea. Within the ring of walls and fortresses there are houses and palaces from the 18th and 19th century, side by side with run-down quarters and squares with plenty of bar and cafes.
The city’s sights include the Castillo de Santa Catalina, a bulwark right on the tip of the small peninsula. In the centre you will find the cathedral, Catedral Nueva, and the Museo de Cádiz on one of the city’s nicest squares, the Plaza de Mina. And then there are a number of interesting churches, the baroque church Oratorio de San Felipe Neri and the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva.
And you can, of course, head for one of these world famous cities for a day trip:
Seville (92km; 1h10min):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.
Córdoba (232km; 2h40min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.