A tale of two cities: Palau Fugit hotel pays homage to the ‘two Gironas’

At home among the stone courtyards and winding streets of Girona, Barcelona-based interior design studio El Equipo Creativo has created an intriguing, luxury bolthole that reflects the layered beauty of its city surroundings. Sensitively transforming the interiors of the Palau Fugit hotel – housed within the walls of an 18^th-century palace – the studio celebrates the best of the ‘two Gironas’ and creates something truly unique.

Inspired first by the Barri Vell, the city’s Old Quarter, the stone façade was retained, keeping the hotel in harmony with the district’s hidden courtyards, porticoes and stone ramparts. The studio then balanced this with a brighter, more contemporary touch by drawing from the ‘lighter side’ of the city – with creative inspiration including the famous colourful townhouses that line the nearby River Onyar, and the vibrant blooms seen during the city’s El Temps de Flors celebration.

In an effort to adapt this historic setting to the needs of the modern traveller, El Equipo Creativo partnered with fellow Barcelona architecture studio Isern Associats, who divided the hotel into two principal sections. The first is La Placeta, a serene stone courtyard with sweeping arches and wrought iron balconies; here, guests are welcomed by the reception, restaurant and cocktail bar, as well as an exclusive spa-for-one tucked under a rustic stone archway. Retaining one of the building’s most striking features, guests can wend their way from this courtyard to their rooms by ascending the original palace staircase.

The second annexe space is named the Pavelló and is distinguished by its more modern aesthetic and functional layout, softened by a central sculpture by local artist Frederic Amat and beds of lush ferns. Here, El Equipo Creativo offers an ode to the Meditteranean ethos of ‘la dolce vita’, employing wood, terracotta and locally crafted ceramics to create a laid-back, mid-century feel. Striving for an effortless yet upscale aesthetic, texture is abundant throughout each room thanks to rattan chairs, dappled tiles and terracotta breeze blocks.

Rooms over in El Palauet, however, feature a warmer, more eclectic feel alongside a careful selection of contemporary art. The curated array of paintings, sculptures, murals and photographs are all original works by local artists, while the gothic arches, porticoes and carved balcony shutters throughout mirror those seen throughout the architecture of the Barri Vell.  Each room also boasts a bespoke marble vanity unit, completed by a palette of soft blues, greys and blush pinks.

Social spaces within the boutique stay also include the Casa Heras restaurant, featuring wall murals by Joana Santamans; La Biblioteca, a library space created for private meals and meetings; and the Gipsy bar, tucked behind the courtyard space of La Placeta to offer guests an intimate nook for cocktail and conversations behind the palace’s ancient walls.