While companies often look to the future to create value, sometimes saving the past can be a business idea with a long way to go. With the idea of saving Spain’s architectural and historical heritage to build a luxury retreat for the most demanding travellersThe Vestige Collection was born ten years ago on the impulse of Víctor Madera, a sports medicine specialist and founder of the Quirónsalud group, through the rescue work of the Palacio de Figueras in Asturias. Since then, the Madera family has acquired other properties in different autonomous communities to develop the “Paradores of the 21st century”.
The requirements for a property to be included in the project are: to be located in an exceptional natural setting and in a historical and cultural setting. The aim is to preserve unique historical sites for new generations as well as to preserve natural and cultural heritage.. Most of the company’s investments are focused on buildings classified as “cultural properties” that have a historic trajectory, architectural relevance in each town and community, and a significant projection in their respective regions.
Through rehabilitation techniques and adaptation to new uses, Vestige Collection plans to add up to 25 properties to its collection in the coming years: 12 of them in hotel format and 13 private ‘sites’ (villas rented as a whole and without reception) Asturias, Balearic Islands, Extremadura, Galicia, Basque Country and Madrid. Along with the Palacio de Figueras, Asturias was the cradle of the project and the site where the first Vestige Collection property was inaugurated. It is a 500-year-old fortress that opens onto the Bay of Biscay and needs more than 11 years of rehabilitation.
The rest of the properties are currently in different stages of development and improvement and will be gradually included in the Vestige Collection portfolio. For example, in Asturias, where 30 million euros have been invested so far, they will gradually join the Palacio de Figueras over the next few years. Torres Donlebún Palace (Barres)HE Pardo Donlebún Palace (Figueras)HE Palace of the Marquess of San Cruz (Castropol), Villa Excelsior (Luarca), Casona el Cercao (Llanes)HE Palace of the Dukes of Estrada (Llanes) And Valledor Palace (Castropol).
The next steps of the Vestige Collection will be the opening of two new properties in Ciutadella (Menorca, Balearic Islands).. These are Son Vell, a 34-room hotel on a 180-hectare farm in the island’s southern countryside, and Santa Ana, a country house used as a ‘private property’. “The island of Menorca is a very special place for our company. We are very excited to present our first hotel here. We hope that our guests who visit us will enjoy the island and fall in love with its history, culture and nature. Sebastian Styger, sales and marketing manager of Vestige Collection, said: presents as we do.”
Of the 25 properties in the collection, nine will be located in the Balearic Islands, six in Menorca, two in Mallorca and one in Formentera.. Seven more facilities will join the final Vell and Santa Ana in the coming years. Specifically, three properties (a hotel and a land private) and a new hotel in Menorca will open its doors in the next two years.
Rehabilitation lasting between five and eight years
Every rehabilitation project of properties that are part of the collection Vestige lasts between five and eight years, according to the group. Professionals from all disciplines participate in the work: historians, architects, museum owners, artisans, landscape architects, interior designers, lighting designers, artists…
The process begins with the purchase of abandoned cultural properties and conduct a historical study that determines the feasibility of healing with the aim of restoring glory. All rehabilitations are always carried out with respect for the authenticity of the buildings so that the buildings are adapted to the demands of the most demanding tourists.
For each project, an intervention adjusted to the historical and architectural context of the place is performed.. The property is then reintegrated into the local community and it is decided to classify it as a hotel or property. The whole process is conducted with an eye towards revitalizing the property and the community it is in, always preserving the identity of each place.
The preservation, improvement and rehabilitation of each of the Vestige locations is accomplished using traditional construction systems. local materials and collaborating with artisans from the area where the property is located. Therefore, the rehabilitation process becomes a booster for the local economies of the regions where they are located and an engine for local development.
Son Vell, a trip to the beauty and tradition of Menorca
Located on a 180-hectare farm, The next member of the Vistage Collection, Son Vell is housed in an original 18th-century mansion.coexisting with a series of traditional farm buildings throughout the entire property. There are well-kept gardens, citrus, olive groves and an organic orchard within the boundaries of the property. The property is located just 20 minutes’ walk from the picturesque port town of Ciutadella and 10 minutes’ walk from Son Vell bay.
The company is in the restoration process at Son Vell. Efforts were made to preserve respect for the building’s identity. The property has preserved traditional marés (sandstone) and limestone, as well as the property’s original wood and handcrafted clay features.
In addition, Son Vell’s gastronomic proposal has its roots in Menorcan cuisine, which pays homage to the freshest ingredients and artisan products on the island. To modernize traditional recipes and infuse them with a modern twist to create delicious dishes, The hotel’s four bars and restaurants offer options for all tastes..
Origin of Vestige Collection Figueras Palace
With the rehabilitation of Palacio de Figueras, Asturias became the cradle of the Vestige Collection project and became the region where the first property to be used as private property was put into service. The project gave rise to Paisajes de Asturias, the company now under the Vestige Collection brand and responsible for purchasing this small and unique selection of luxury retreats for the most demanding travellers. More than 30 million euros have been invested so far, creating up to 60 direct jobs.