Solo Palacio

Set in the lush green mountains of Asturias, Solo Palacio is an unusual hotel, to say the least. The building is a 16th-century palace — more rustic than the word might suggest — but the concept is wabi-sabi, as in the Japanese idea of taking pleasure in imperfection and impermanence. Accordingly, the estate has been restored, but not to perfection; and while the experience is a luxurious one, everything feels unpretentiously rough-edged and charmingly handmade.

The apartments freely combine modern and antique elements, as well as period and contemporary styles, and European and Asian objets and décor. Some are contained within the original house, others in outbuildings of varying vintages. The immediate setting is the Las Ubiñas Natural Park, and Solo Palacio shows an uncommon dedication to preserving the environment; the hotel operates as a non-profit whose income flows not to the owners but to local environmental and development projects.

There’s no spa, per se, but a sauna, a jacuzzi, and an infinity pool with a view of the forested valley go a long way. And the restaurant, Solo Bistró, is as locally oriented as you’d expect, serving inventive Asturian cuisine with a particular focus on the local varieties of mushrooms.