The Place
Vejer is a delightful medieval town crowning a solitary hill near the coast. In the old part of town, the Felipe brothers have lovingly converted a 17thC convent into an unusual hotel; a set of photographs in the echoing tell the story of the renovations. Many of the remains have been preserved – a Roman mosaic in the hall, a cabinet of medieval pottery on the stairs, the old choir stalls and frescos in the sitting room. The bedrooms still have their original stone arches visible in the walls and the furniture has been designed in harmony – arched bed-heads, stripped pine desks, wooden shutters. The result is effective – the simplicity of a nun’s cell with the facilities of a modern hotel.
The refectory still serves as a dining room, still with wooden benches and tables lining the walls. Bright modern cushions and abstract modern paintings add a splash of colour. Our inspector’s meal, the menu del dia, was excellent, piping hot and served by cheerful staff. Outside the dining room is an obscure metal sculpture, two floors high. The centre-piece of the Convento is the ‘choir hall’ – a great place to sit when the sun filters through the windows in the early morning.