T

hough to English speakers it may sound poetic, Casa Morisca is one of those literal, understated hotel names — it means simply “Moorish house,” and that’s exactly what it is. This small hotel is in fact a meticulously restored 15th-century Moorish residence, deep in Granada’s medieval quarter, in the shadow of the Alhambra.

In traditional Moorish style the house is arranged around a central courtyard, complete with a bubbling fountain, a sort of oasis of quiet in the heart of the historic district. Some rooms face outward, others inward over the courtyard, and the most spectacular is in the top-floor Mirador, a sort of observation tower — this room is particularly spacious and airy, offering panoramic views of the city and the Alhambra.

Interiors are traditional in style, each room individually decorated, with unique touches like ceiling beams or arched doorways and plenty of lovingly restored original architectural detail. Bathrooms are ornately tiled but thankfully completely modern.

Public spaces include a vaulted breakfast room and a patio garden with a view of the Alhambra’s Comares tower. Casa Morisca isn’t quite the sort of place you can lock yourself away — there’s no restaurant, for example — but it’s the ideal home base from which to explore the Moorish quarter, and a delightfully quiet retreat at the end of a day.



How to get there:
Casa Morisca is approximately a 30-minute drive from Federico García Lorca Airport (GRX).