Hotel VIURA – the first true luxury boutique hotel opens in Rioja

Hotel VIURA – the first true luxury boutique hotel opens in Rioja

London, March 2010:  This summer visitors to the wine region of Rioja will be able to stay at a brand new four star hotel VIURA (www.hotelviura.com).  Named after the most widely planted white grape variety in Rioja, Viura is a new-build, contemporary hotel with 26 guestrooms and seven suites, two bars and a restaurant.

Hotel Viura is the fifth hotel in the MHM portfolio, which specialises in the development, launch and management of independent hotels.  The current portfolio comprises Villa Soro and Astoria7 in San Sebastian, Iturregi in Getaria (Guipúzcoa) and Palacio Guendulain in Pamplona.  Ongoing projects include Cap Rocat in Mallorca (opening June 2010) and a project in Normandy scheduled for 2011.

Pablo Carrington, Managing Director of MHM said:

“Viura is Rioja’s first true luxury boutique hotel.    It feels cutting edge, exciting and fun.  But we also want to give anyone who stays here a true feel of La Rioja – after all, we are right in the middle of a typical, working wine village. So, although it is very contemporary, Viura really blends in with the village.”

Villabuena de Alava, home to Hotel Viura, is typical of the many small medieval villages dotted amongst the vineyards in the rolling wine country of La Rioja Alavesa, one of three regions – with Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja that make up La Rioja, Spain’s prime wine-producing area.   Though part of the Denominación de Origen of La Rioja, the area actually lies within the province of Alava, southernmost of the Basque Country’s three provinces.

Cutting edge architecture and design.

This ancient and illustrious wine country is the place where the old world charms of Spanish wineries now blend flawlessly with ultramodern architecture, and Viura is a perfect example of this.    Although it is set in the middle of the traditional village, next to the 17th century church, Viura’s architecture, is a true departure from traditional form:  a series of concrete cubes, one on top of the other, that seem to rise out of the ground.   The architecture successfully links the interior to the exterior landscape; floor to ceiling windows throughout and private terraces ensure that there is always a view of the village, the Sierra de Cantabria or the church.

The sleek, uncluttered interiors have been designed by designhouses (www.designhouses.es) who are also the owners of the hotel.   Clever use of partitions, glass and sophisticated lighting add to the ambiance and fun.  Materials and techniques have been brilliantly used together to create avant-garde work of art, strikingly different to its environment but nonetheless blending in to its surroundings.

URBAN MUSIC SUMMER FESTIVALS 2010

URBAN MUSIC SUMMER FESTIVALS 2010

When we talk about summer music festivals, three basic concepts always come to mind: dirt, camping tents and drunken university students. But this doesn’t have to always apply. On the first hand, because more and more are big cities going for new formats that hold prestigious and specialised vanguard music festivals (a way to also ensure the arrival of quality tourism to the city), and on the other, because lesser by the day can we find promoters daring to take the risk to sponsor more conventional big summer festival formats; they are basically expensive, unsustainable and dependant on too complex an infrastructure. Contrary to this, and certainly more minoritarian, exclusive, cleaner and better communicated, urban music festivals enjoy all the advantages big cities have; those being of course, the accessibility to public transport and a quality hotelier offer. Usually located around big ferial areas and exhibition sites, these festivals present themselves as the true musical vanguard and quality alternative of the season.

Thus, Cocosuites.com does its own personal selection of the best Urban Music Festivals in Spain this summer.

COMEBACK 15 – Seville – June 5th.

On a distant night back in 1995, Seville inaugurated what would become one of the main events in culture clubbing and disco music in Spain. Thus the Comeback Festival was instituted as a mega space of up to 7 stages where one can enjoy the music of the main electronic artists in Europe. Celebrating this year its 15^th edition, the festival presents a spectacular montage of light, sound and special effects to embrace a luxury line-up that, amongst more than 100 artists and 35 Andalusian emergent deejays, features stars such as: THE CRYSTAL METHOD, MISTRESS BARBARA, SNAP!, ADAM BEYER, REX THE DOG, ALEXANDER KOWALSKI, GREEN VELVET, MARCMARZENIT o OSCAR MULERO.

http://www.newsfx.es/

SÓNAR 2010 – Barcelona / A Coruña – June 17th, 18th & 19th.

The always extraordinary Barcelona Sónar Festival practically demands a compulsory visit. With more than 5 different urban stages around the city, multiple all-ages activities and more than 200 concerts by the leading national and international electronic music artists, this year’s 16^th edition surely promises to be spectacular. This internationally acclaimed 3 day and night long, advanced music and multimedia art festival, that this year also takes place simultaneously in the Galician city of A Coruña, features first class artists such as: THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, ROXY MUSIC, AIR, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, PLASTIKMAN, HOT CHIP, AEROPLANES, DIZEE RASCAL, JÓNSI, FUCK BUTTONS, etc.

http://2010.sonar.es/index.html?dist=1

COME ON! INDIE FESTIVAL – Valencia / Barcelona – June 18th / July 9th

A novelty this year, the Come On! festival makes its public debut as an interesting opportunity to enjoy a non-stop round indie night for indie pop-rock music fans. The festival, that takes place in Valencia first and in Barcelona a couple of weeks later, aspires to become a solid launching platform for emerging indie national bands and a space where one can learn of new music vanguards and trends. The line up this year is constituted by five young bands of an albeit solid trajectory in the independent scene, like: LU-K, VINODELFÍN, LIMBOTHEQUE, THE BONGO EXPERIENCE & AMATRIA.

http://www.comeonindiefestival.com/

VIGO TR4NSFORMA – Vigo – July 2nd – 10^th

Another novelty this year that must be carefully followed is the promising Vigo Tr4nsforma that, being included in the official 2010 Xacobeo program, aims to turn the city in a space for participation and interrelation of multiple art disciplines. Thus, significant city landmarks will be taken by various artistic, scientific and technological projects to, in effect, “transform” Vigo alongside both citizens and visitors alike. The culmination of the program is a series of concerts on July 9^th and 10^th where we can find artists of renowned prestige such as: THE XX, STANDSTILL, LOVE OF LESBIAN, DEVENDRA BANHART, JEFF TWEEDY, FISCHERSPOONER, THE DIVINE COMEDY, ORBITAL or DELAFÉ Y LAS FLORES AZULES.

http://www.vigotransforma.com/

PULPOP FESTIVAL 2010 – Roquetas de Mar, Almería – July 10th

Especially interesting is also the fifth and present edition of the Pulpop Festival. Located in the town’s bullring, this peculiar festival is, more than just a series of concerts, also a meeting point for indie-pop music lovers. The multiple activities that take place include an interesting open and free fair where one can find alternative music, vintage clothing and other collector items and accessories. Nevertheless, the main attraction of the festival is its always selective line up that this year includes groups such as: LOVE OF LESBIAN, ARIZONA BABY, MAGA, DIECINUEVE, MONOGAY, SCARAMUSA or DJ DONGONZALO.

http://www.pulpop.es/

“Poetry in the Palace” Cycles of Poetry in the Hospes Palacio de los Patos (Granada)

The poetic tradition of a city like Granada is unquestionable, so it´s not necessary to justify the existence of a stable cycle of poetry. In this cycle, we´ll see some of the most important authors of Spanish and Latin American poetry of our days. Hospes Palacio de Los Patos offers a continuous cycle in which some of the most important poems of recent years can be heard in the voice of the authors themselves.

In these fantastic sessions of poetry, contemporary authors such as Luis Alberto de Cuenca, Luis García Montero, Elena Medel, Joan Margarit, Piquero and Maria José Luis Salvador, just to name a few, have already recited poetry to a delighted audience. This activity is taking place at the Hotel Palacio de los Patos, a historic building perfect for the occasion, that was renovated and equipped to be used as a luxury hotel.

In general we can say that this is a unique experience and a great excuse to visit Granada. Initiatives like these, where hotels with a lot of history open their doors are very interesting. Other historic properties, now restored to become hotels and restaurants, should follow the example.

You can find information on past and future editions of these kind of readings on the official website of the cycle of poetry at http://www.hospes-poesiaenelpalacio.com/. And if you want to learn more about the rooms and suites of this hotel, visit our web site: www.cocosuites.com.

Best Breakfast in the World, according to Madrid Fusion

For many, breakfast is an art and constitutes the most important meal of the day. That´s why it should be served with time. Therefore, Maricel´s Breakfast, that can be enjoyed for up to three hours, was awarded as “Best Breakfast in the World” according to the food critics gathered at the II Summit of Gastronomy “Madrid Fusion”.

The peculiarities of this famous breakfast at the Hotel Maricel de Mallorca are several. To start, there´s no fixed menu or buffet, but instead a sung menu that varies depending on the ingredients available each season and that includes various services that can be extended according the customer´s will.

This “totally new dining experience” consists of a multi-course tasting menu, including digestive juices and amazing milkshakes or chocolate with spices, butter and crackers, a variety of aromatic breads, mini-yogurts of fruit jam and spices, chocolates and creams, pastries and cakes with fruit and vegetables, and the spectacular “chupito” of tomato with onions and quail egg.

There are infinite ways to start a day, but this is probably one of the best. For more info about this great breakfast, and to know our selection of the best Suites in Mallorca, visit our web site: www.cocosuites.com

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2010

There’s less than a week left for the UEFA Champions League final that will, by means of justice or sheer math, bring face to face the two best clubs in the continent. Five days left for the FC Bayern München and the FC INternazionale Milano to finally meet up in one of the most important days of the year. A day for hell or glory, for laughter or wailing, for love, hate, anxiety, hope, fear, endurance and the fight; all of it packed in 90 heart-stopping minutes. A day to experiment and live through the whole spectrum of human emotions, at least for those who love football. And this May 22^nd, all those hearts will meet in Madrid.

The city, showing its historical love for this grand sport, and following the tradition initiated in the 2006 Paris final, has displayed a series of open air activities for the city’s citizens and visitors since May 15^th until May 22^nd. Thus those around the Plaza del Angel Caído (in the Parque del Retiro), might as well visit the UEFA “Champions Festival” and its activities for all ages such as:

• The UEFA Champions League trophy exhibit and photo booth for visitors.
• The “Ultimate Champions” match between some of the best Spanish and international ex players (Saturday 22^nd at 14h).
• The “Theatre of the Champions”, an audiovisual experience displaying a collection of the most glorious moments in the competition’s history since its origins back in 1955.
• The “Museum of the Champions”, with personal objects of the biggest football teams and players.
• Special skill exhibit and autograph signing by legendary players.
• The UEFA “Young Champions Tournament” for mixed teams of 5 for children from 10 to 16.
• UEFA Information booth with quizzes and prizes.
• Special football game between Real Madrid CF and Club Atlético de Madrid veterans and a selection of the best Paralympics football teams.
• Series of matches for visitors and amateurs sponsored and organised by Red Deporte y Cooperación, charity dedicated to use the power of sport to promote development in non OECD countries and advocate for  integration non violent attitudes in Spain.
• Special stands of the competition’s sponsors (Ford, Mastercard, Sony, UniCredit & Adidas), where a set of various activities will be displayed.

All these activities can be enjoyed up until a few hours prior to the match of the year (that will take place at 20:45h), and even offer the possibility of winning last minute tickets for the match and for the Women’s UEFA Champions League final, taking place on May 20^th between Olympique Lyonnais and FFC Turbine Postdam at the Alfonso Pérez coliseum in Getafe.

You can reach the Parque del Retiro, where this UEFA CHAMPIONS FESTIVAL will take place, quickly by foot from CocoSuites hotels such as the Palacio del Retiro, Westin Palace Madrid or Hospes Madrid.