Hotel Barceló Emperatriz

The reign of Empress Eugénia de Montijo, Spain’s final Empress consort, came to an end almost a century ago, but her legacy has endured. The former Spanish noblewoman is now the inspiration for the Barceló Emperatriz hotel, located in a historic 19th-century building in Madrid’s central Salamanca neighborhood.

Neoclassical touches have been injected into the contemporary redesign to create an atmosphere embodying both elegance and modern comfort. Original moldings and coffers still adorn the ceilings, while abstract sculptures provide a sporadic spark of modernity. Materials such as marble and wood—historically featured in houses of nobility—are used to dress transit and social areas, and large, avant-garde mirrors line the corridors in reference to the grand, theatrical mirrors also typical of the palaces.

Some of the modern furnishings in both public spaces and 146 guestrooms are dressed in more neutral tones to complement darker details.Velvet and leather upholstery on seating provides a soft complement to the hotel’s more intense hues in the shared environments, while two suites feature large terraces overlooking the city.