Scotland is a land full of stories of kings, queens, barons and even bloody massacres. The Inverlochy Castle Hotel, formerly known as Inverlochy Castle, is a 19th-century Gothic revival style mansion, that once belonged to the third Lord Abinger. With 17 bedrooms and suites, this has now become somewhat of a jewel of the Scottish Highlands, run by Relais & Chateaux.
In the culturally-rich Hyderabad, the beautiful Falaknuma was built by Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad. In 2010, with the restoration overseen by Esra Jah and RMA Architects, and the task of its completion taken over by the Taj Group of Hotels, the property was converted into a heritage hotel.
The Xara Palace was built during the late 17th century as a home to the noble family of Moscati Parisio. It was later used by the British during the war and in 1949 was converted into a hotel. Today the hotel houses magnificent antique church doors dating from the 18th century, 17 rooms, antiques and original paintings from Maltese masters. The hotel also has an exclusive Michelin Star restaurant, the de Mondion.
During the 19th century, the sultans started building their own palaces instead of using those of their ancestors—the Çırağan Palace is the last example of this tradition. The authentic details of the palace — be it the baroque style interiors, vaulted ceilings, elegant antiques, textiles and soft colours — truly create regal environs. The hotel currently has 313 rooms, including 20 suites in the hotel section and 11 suites in the historical palace section.
Did you know that this hotel used to be a billionaire’s secret Mexican hideout? Today, this property houses four suites in the main house, and seven remote bungalows, with a guest list of the likes of Mick Jagger, Madonna, and Bill Gates.
The Tivoli Palacio de Seteais was built in 1787. It was finally in 1946 that the Portuguese government purchased the site. In 2009 this grand historic destination underwent a massive renovation. The palace hotel has Moorish-inspired Romantic architecture, ornate furnishings, chandeliers, rich silks, marquetry inlay furniture, 18th-century antiques and restored frescoes.