THE MERCER HOTEL
BARCELONA, SPAIN
What an exciting experience! When we entered the Hotel, we
thought we were going back to the real Gothic period. A building
loaded with history and inheritance of those years.
The Hotel has an excellent location, in perfect harmony with the
surrounding environment. Very close to the Gothic Cathedral of
Barcelona, it has the original feature, and most of the old Gothic
ruins are still intact. We see that the great challenge was to in-
clude a Hotel with charm and elegance, within these walls. Mate-
rials such as iron and lots of glass, turn this Hotel a perfect symbi-
osis between the past and the present. We could also observe this
on the street, just before entering the Hotel. Just amazing. The
stone is the main feature of this hotel, which has been accumulat-
ing remains of different construction styles throughout history
dating from the 1st to the 19th century. Its medieval facade, full
of balconies, welcomes guests through a large solid wood gate.
Inside, an orange patio framed by columns of the seventeenth
century helps the light reach the interiors. As soon as we arrived,
we were exclusively welcomed by a group of professionals, who
guided us in a serene and elegant manner. The large Lobby is a
harmonious and an extremely inviting space. A well-appointed
lounge area with pieces of author and design appropriated the
place. All with all care. During the morning, we had the pleasure
of having breakfast, where everything was prepared with the ut-
most care and we noticed that we’re very near a meeting room,
which was indeed, a true relic of the past. This room practically
maintains intact the structure of the Gothic, where we could see
a large stone arch at its entrance. This room is completed with
a large table and chairs, and a large rug that covers almost any
space. A thoughtful restoration by architect Rafael Moneo trans-
formed the building into an elegant, sophisticated hotel. The ar-
chitectural features have been preserved to create a deeply com-
fortable, discreet yet welcoming ambience.
