A chic, timeless retreat within the coronary heart of Empordá, the sought-after countryside of the Costa Brava, Lodge Mas de Torrent is a delight. With 39 suites, the signature Mas de Torrent restaurant, the spectacular Mas Spa, in addition to a dreamy pool and gardens, this Relais & Châteaux property immerses you in Catalan attraction and historical past.
Resonates with the historical past and tradition of this outstanding area, Mas de Torrent is an 18th-century Catalan masía (farmhouse) on the Costa Brava that has been respectfully renovated and prolonged while retaining its distinctive character. This refined, up to date retreat is imbued with the considerate strategy to hospitality that defines the boutique Unico Inns assortment. Right here you’re feeling at house, calmed by the mild embrace of historic environment, with thick stone partitions, the vaulted ceilings, and the handmade terracotta ground tiles worn clean by generations of footsteps.
A Sense of Place
The masía was as soon as the guts of a rural group, the centre of agricultural life on this fertile area of Catalonia. At the moment, it nonetheless sits on the coronary heart of the Torrent, providing tempting gastronomy and a superb vacation spot spa.
The property’s founder, hotelier Pau Guardans, was clear along with his imaginative and prescient, confirming, “I’m drawn to the posh present in easy issues finished exceptionally effectively, with out pretence. With this mission, we sought to protect this gem of luxurious hospitality, honouring its legacy whereas refreshing the expertise for at the moment’s travellers.”
This philosophy is obvious in all places. The unique construction of the farmhouse has been preserved – these magnificent stone partitions, arches, Catalan vaults, and flooring stay intact. But inside this historic setting, up to date comforts have been thoughtfully built-in.
The inside design by Pilar García-Nieto (who can also be the expertise behind the distinctive laidback luxurious of Finca Serena and The Lodge Mallorca) makes use of a palette of earthy colors, pure supplies, along with rustic and vintage furnishings. Massive home windows body views of the Empordà countryside, making a seamless dialogue between the historic inside and the timeless panorama past.
Morning Mild
My first full day on the property begins trying over the gardens that slope gently towards distant views of the medieval village of Buddies. The sunshine right here has a high quality that has drawn artists for generations.
I start to know why this area captivated figures like Josep Maria Sert (whose “Catalan Evocations” work cling in the primary home), Salvador Dalí, and even Coco Chanel.
After breakfast, I borrow one of many lodge’s bicycles to discover the close by countryside. The mild terrain of Empordà makes biking accessible, alongside effectively sign-posted nation trails that wind by means of fields and pines as we make our method towards the medieval village of Buddies.
This hilltop village dates again to the 4th century. Its slender cobblestone streets wind upward to a Gothic quarter dominated by a Twelfth-century Romanesque tower. It’s a pleasure to discover, with the daylight illuminating the nice and cozy sandstone of the superbly maintained constructing s
Peratallada, one other outstanding medieval village, can also be price a go to. Its identify coming from “pedra tallada” (carved stone), so evocative of this charming group that’s certainly carved from golden stone. A moat nonetheless surrounds elements of this fortified settlement, and its most important sq. is house to eating places serving conventional Catalan delicacies beneath stone arcades.
Lunch on the Terrace
Again at Mas de Torrent, lunch on the terrace at Las Brasas del Mas affords an off-the-cuff but refined expertise. I start with a gilda – the traditional Basque pintxo of anchovy, pickled guindilla pepper, and olive on a skewer – and a vermouth. That is adopted by Iberian ham with pan con tomate (that quintessential Catalan preparation of bread rubbed with ripe tomato), a tasting of Empordà cheeses with house-made jams, creamy croquettes full of roast meat and Iberian ham, and cod fritters with Figueres onion and olive paste.
The spotlight an ‘arroz meloso’ made with rice from Buddies (the native village can also be well-known for its rice manufacturing) with good purple prawns from close by Palamós. Dessert brings selfmade chocolate fritters and others full of apple.
Wellbeing
For a bit afternoon pampering, I go to the MasSpa. Housed in a standalone constructing constructed with sustainability in thoughts, the picket construction appears to emerge organically from the panorama.
Inside, the 600-square-metre wellbeing centre affords thoughtfully designed moist and dry areas for each women and men, therapy rooms, and an indoor pool. The spa expertise feels genuine whereas considerate particulars like the nice and cozy towels and warmed important oils add to the sense of enjoyable indulgence. The therapy makes use of merchandise from Natura Bissé.
Vacation spot Experiences
The Costa Brava beckons with experiences, and the concierge crew are desirous to share signature excursions that embody a half/day journey aboard the Mas de Torrent boat, their elegant Gozzo 35 that departs from close by Palamós harbour. As we cruise alongside the rugged shoreline, skipper Sergio factors out hidden coves accessible solely by water. We anchor in a single such bay the place the water is an unimaginable shade of turquoise and luxuriate in a category of Finca Serena Mallorca rosé wine – life feels good.
We move Cala s’Alguer, a small seashore flanked by conventional fishermen’s huts painted in white, with vibrant accents in yellow, purple, and blue. The straightforward buildings have been preserved as a part of the area’s heritage, a reminder of the Costa Brava’s genuine maritime traditions that existed lengthy earlier than tourism found these shores.
One other expertise that I can not advocate sufficient is a information go to to the Gala Dalí Fortress in Púbol, only a brief drive from the lodge. Salvador Dalí bought this medieval fortified home as a present for his spouse and muse, Gala. The constructing itself is fascinating, and the tales of life right here, fascinating, just like the aged proprietor of the restaurant subsequent door who was the prepare dinner for Gala.
Gastronomy
The best reward upon returning to Mas de Torrent is the internal on the positive eating signature restaurant elevates the expertise additional. As a part of the Relais & Châteaux community of gastronomic inns, Mas de Torrent takes its delicacies severely. Chef Marc Alcalde’s dishes honour the recipes and traditions of Catalonia’s rural gastronomic heritage whereas including up to date refinement.
My night begins with Pyrenees butter garum with black olive and anchovy on toast, accompanied by a breadbasket and additional virgin olive oils from Arbequina, Picual, and Empeltre olives grown at Finca Serena in Mallorca.
The primary programs arrive: wild seabass ceviche vibrant with citrus; vitello tonnato introduced with a fragile pickled mustard; and zucchini flowers full of recent cheese in a light-weight tempura batter. These give technique to roast three-meat cannelloni with béchamel and roast juice – a dish that exemplifies the Catalan strategy to “mar i muntanya” (sea and mountain), combining elements from completely different terrains.
The primary course of grilled turbot is a examine in simplicity and approach – the fish cooked completely, served with its personal juice infused with garlic and vitet (an area pepper), accompanied by potatoes, small onions, peppers, and piparras. Dessert brings a Xuixo from Girona – a deep-fried pastry full of cream and served with espresso ice cream.
Pool Suite
Whereas Mas de Torrent affords 39 suites distributed throughout the property, I stayed in one of many seven Pool Suites that promised privateness and out of doors residing, with a considerate design with supplies and a impartial color palette. Right here, my very own 5 x 2.5m pool beckoned every morning and afternoon.
The suite appears like a small cottage, with a hallway, dressing room, front room, separate bed room that may be made cosy with the thick, diving velvet curtains, a spacious showroom with a separate W.C.
Welcomed as a Pal
Susana, the final supervisor, embodies the Relais & Châteaux philosophy of welcoming friends into a house relatively than merely a lodge. That is amplified by the very private touches from Unico Lodge’s founder, Pau Guardans, whose grandfather, a Barcelona businessman and lover of artwork, fell in love with this space a long time in the past.
On this globalised period, Mas de Torrent stays distinctly, profoundly distinctive, providing refined Catalan hospitality, and showcasing the fantastic Costa Brava area.
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