Malales Martínez Canut, an interior designer who always fantasized about one day building the hotel where she would want to stay, fulfilled her wish by acquiring a Cantabrian palace with a lot of history. She has been the one who has chosen every detail of its eleven rooms, - with the help of the María Mas Interiors studio, - with a mixture of respect for the history of the building, the desire to offer something different, and those of taking care of the guest's demands. more sybarite.
As a result of his imagination and his work, the Helguera Palace was born, which is a hotel, a spa and an antique store. Everything that decorates is susceptible to being purchased. A plan for hedonists with great taste.
How did you decide and how did the purchase of the Helguera palace come about?
My bet on the topic of luxury was focused on Ibiza. I wanted to do something on the peninsula and when I found the Helguera Palace I fell in love. We saw that it could become a truly luxury five-star boutique hotel. In addition to having a large area, being surrounded by delicious gardens allows it to offer absolute privacy. The palace was ordered to be built in the 17th century by Count Santa Ana de las Torres, right hand of the viceroy of Peru for his retirement in Spain. Juan Mateu de Ros, writer, and Concha Sánchez-Ocaña, marketing expert, built an attractive story around it. They are both part of the project.
What was your dream when you did it?
From the Malmaca_design studio, I have been able to work on numerous projects for hotels. I had always hoped to be able to make one according to my own criteria, with my idea of what a luxury hotel should be like. And the time came.
What was that criterion?
What attracts me most about a good hotel is that it makes me feel part of it, that it surprises me with things I didn't even imagine, and that it makes me feel at home. This is how I wanted to make the Helguera Palace. As a good friend of mine said: “I'm at Aunt Enriqueta's house with great service.”
What details did you take special care of?
In any luxury hotel, maximum care will be taken of the facilities and equipment in general (sheets, pillows, amenities, etc.), but as an interior designer I give a lot of importance to the interiors and decoration, which I want to be authentic and original at all times. the time. Authenticity lies in having respected the uniqueness of the building and its location - without being carried away by fashions or trends - and originality lies in having been able to offer something surprising that gives personality to the project. Our guideline was already marked by the history of the palace itself: we immersed ourselves in the era of the Enlightenment, adopting its rococo style, prevailing in the 18th century and coming from France, which due to its proximity had a lot of influence on the Indian mansions and the palaces of area. In the project I had María Mas, who knew how to blend in with the palace and give it that majesty characteristic of the style, with its chinoiseries, velvets, rockery and love for nature. When we saw the result we said “let's go for more: so that all these beautiful objects can also be acquired by others.” And so we also became Boutique Antique.
What are the differentiating features of the experience at Palacio de Helguera?
Being a palatial building from the 17th century, it is already differential in itself, along with the abundant nature that surrounds it. Its location is very good: equidistant from the beaches, the caves, the airport, beautiful towns and Santander. Although clients usually do not want to leave the palace, they can walk around and enjoy the impressive nature. If you dare going up the mountain you can even see roe deer. At the hotel you can enjoy the indoor pool, the outdoor pool, the wellness area, the vintage gym with state-of-the-art machines... the massages from our professionals, which are a real luxury. Clients also really enjoy our a la carte breakfasts, with homemade jams, and our restaurant, where chef Renzo Orbegoso prepares daily with products from Cantabria with his original touch and his Peruvian nod (evoking the history of the palace). But perhaps the most differential thing is that everything you like about the palace you can take with you. It is an Antique Boutique Hotel.
What do you like most?
The team of people who created it and the team of people who run it.
