|
The smell of incense and the large porcelain oriental vases in the Hostal Fonde Horizonte's entranceway makes you feel like you aren't in Madrid anymore, Dorothy. Hand-painted Oriental ceiling trim, gilded Asian mirrors, and funky green-and-pink hallway walls, all leading to similarly-inspired rooms, establish a tone at odds with the Spanish capital today.
The funky vintage décor has nothing to do with the location's deep-rooted Spanish history. Situated on Calle Atocha, a main drag streaking the center, the place has been in the same family for 300 years. It's been passed down from each generation to the next. International brigade fighters stayed there during the Civil War, when a portion of the bunker was bombed.
Thirty-something Julio César, who runs Hostal Fonde Horizonte with his sister and brother, recently renovated the grout-free bathrooms, hand-painted ceilings and trim, and added furniture (such as Oriental-style mirrored wardrobes and aged-wood furniture) collected on his and his siblings' travels. Three rooms have private bathrooms, which we suggest most prospective visitors request. For a traveler on a tight budget, though, rooms without bathrooms are a good option. While their décor level isn't quite as high, rooms with shared bathrooms have balconies overlooking bustling Calle Atocha.
|
