Palau de la Mar

Swaggering onto the scene, the Hospes Palau de la Mar announced Valencia’s coming of age. An avant-garde group of designers and architects remodeled two 18th-century palaces near the Turia River, balancing original details (ornate carved doors, a marble staircase) with contemporary touches, such as a striking glass-and-steel patio. The 66 bedrooms have dark parquet floors, crisp white bed linens, and free mini-bars.