Hotel San Gabriel

An 18th century home in the heart of Ronda on Andalucía's Route of the Pueblos Blancos

Ronda—a gaggle of houses crowding to the edge of a gorge that drops away on three sides—is the most spectacular of the Pueblos Blancos, a series of whitewashed towns in the Andalusian interior. It's also the birthplace of one of Andalucía's most famous (albeit controversial) exports: the modern bullfight.

The Hotel San Gabriel opened in the mid 1990s in the heart of the historic old town, converted from an Andalusian house dating back to 1726.

Rooms vary widely, with a mix of rich brocades and curtains, exposed brick, terracotta floors, Moorish accents in tile work, the occasional Art Nouveau flourish, lichen-spotted roof tiles, and plaster walls painted in warm, sort colors.

Among the bespoke amenities: Free WiFi, a plant-filled patio with a fountain, pre-dinner glasses of sherry in the wine cellar, a poetry corner that looks like a bespoke private office, and a tiny movie room with seats salvaged from the town's old cinema.

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