Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Holiday Hotspot – Valparaiso - Chile
Located ninety minutes from capital city Santiago, Valparaiso’s revival began in 2003 when UNESCO declared the historic centre a world heritage site. The city began to languish when the trade route moved to the Panama Canal in the early 20th century, and it remained in a state of disrepair for more than a half-century. The local government began to recognize the city’s rich history and charm but didn’t introduce a practical way to turn it around until nearly seven years later. Roads and sidewalks have been repaved to make them more walk able, broken cobblestones have
n Valparaiso, Chile.
been repaired, and dozens of buildings, many concentrated in the historic area, have been restored. Homes have been repainted in vivid reds, yellows, blues and purples. The Hotel Palacio Astoreca opened in October 2012, following a masterful two-year renovation of one of Valparaiso’s most iconic national monuments, the Astoreca Palace, located in the heart of fashionable Cerro Alegre. The design-driven, 23-room hotel de charme offers luxe accommodations, a chic spa, a gourmet restaurant, superlative personalized service, and utterly breathtaking views of the city’s “amphitheatre” of eclectic urban landscapes and the Valparaiso Bay -- all
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within close distance of some of the city’s best attractions. Owners Vincent Juillerat and Francisca Joannon have beautifully fused a European and Chilean aesthetic with the guidance of acclaimed architects Mathias Klotz, Renzo Alvano, and Pablo Riquelme. With an investment of US $5 million, the Palacio Astoreca has recovered the style and elegance that the property had lost over time. The hotel’s on-site restaurant Alegre is led by Spaniard Sergio Barroso, a talented young chef whose prior experience includes stints at Ferran Adria’s “El Bullí.” Alegre, which is open to the public, was already named by the country’s leading newspaper, El Mercurio, as the Best Restaurant outside of Santiago in 2013. Hotel Palacio Astoreca is one of the newest members of Relais & Châteaux an association of the world’s finest hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality. Visit www. relaischateaux.com or www. hotelpalacioastoreca.com Valparaiso city highlights to see include a visit to Cerro Concepción (Conception Hill
in English) by riding the oldest elevator in Valpo – Ascensor Concepción. Have a walk through history at the Museo del Mar Lord Cochrane – the original home of the Scottish sailor who founded the Chilean navy. Today, it serves as a museum highlighting the history of Chile’s navy. Pay tribute to the most famous Chilean artist & poet Pablo Neruda, by visiting one of n Hotel Palacio As his former homes toreca from Re lais & Chatea turned museum – La ux. Sebastiana. He won by Wine the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. His poetry is consid- Spectator magazine. www. m i n i ered by many to be the soul matetic.cl Air France oper- mum of hassle. Having of Chile, and he played an ate a daily service from Paris travelled all over the world important role in his coun- to Santiago via Dublin with for more than 20 years, I try’s recent history as a po- best fares at www.airfrance. must say this was the best litical icon and national hero. ie Nuevo Mundo an Irish organised trip I have been Tour the nearby Casablanca based travel agent specialis- on and I felt spoilt! www. Valley and vineyards includ- ing in South America.provide nuevomondo.ie ing Matetic’s state-of-the-art a personal service and orRobert Walshe is a travel multimillion-dollar winery ganise every element of your trip. The experience includes broadcaster with Q Radio one of the most architecturally avant-garde facilities private airport transfers in Network and Travel Editor in Chile. They are also ex- each destination, airport for River Media newspaper perts in determining just assistance and guides who titles across the island of the right terroir to produce can accompany you to your Ireland. www.robertwChile’s EQ syrah, judged one check-in to ensure you get alshe.com of the world’s top 100 wines on board your flight with the