The imposing and somewhat austere stonewall facade of this 18th century palace gives only a little hint of what is to come inside. The hosts, Angela and Pedro bought the hotel in ruins but being interior designers by profession they have managed to transform the place and imbue it with decorative flair. The central hall, for example, with its interesting wafer brick arches combines old world charm with fine antique pieces and some idiosyncratic paintings.
The jewel in the crown, however must be the tromp l’oeil frescoes painted by the Polish artist Jull Dziamski. The village of Briñas is also one of the loveliest in the whole La Rioja region making the hotel an ideal base to visit the local mansions and churches - a legacy of the region’s 16th century Golden Age.
An historical footnote. Brinas was once the headquarters for Italian soldiers based here during the Spanish Civil war, though nowadays the only thing to attack the senses is quietude.