Hotel Duquesa Suites

The Duquesa Suites, located at number 1 Passeig Colom (Colón) and number 5 Plaça de Correus (Correos), the former Plaça d'Antonio López, was built at the end of the 18th century for residential purposes, following the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of two buildings acquired by the stockbroker Gil Grau, which stood opposite the old Sea Wall, in what was then known as Plaça de San Sebastián or de los Encantes. The wall, which occupied the site of today's Passeig Colom and the Moll de la Fusta (Wooden Quay), was once the main promenade for the people of Barcelona, who flocked there during the summer months to enjoy the cool sea breeze or in the winter to bask in the warmth of the sun.

After Gil Grau's death, the estate was inherited by his son, Magí Grau, and later bought by the merchant Josep Inglada on 12 September 1818. The property then passed through several descendants until, after the demolition of the wall, it was purchased on 18 June 1890 by the Sociedad Banco Vitalicio, due to its central location in the financial heart of the city.

On 20 February 1919, the property was bought by the engineer Josep Maria Roviralta, a leading figure in Barcelona society and founder of the micro-cement factory Uralita S.A. On 14 July 1934, the property was registered as the headquarters of the company, which expanded rapidly over the years.

The city's seafront was severely damaged by bombing during the Civil War. This is evidenced by the recognition of the property as a "war-damaged building" by the Barcelona City Council on 20 August 1940.

In the 1980s, the building housed various offices of the Generalitat de Catalunya, until it was purchased by the current owner.

The relationship between Barcelona and the sea runs through everything we do at Hotel Duquesa Suites. After all, Barcelona's history has always been inextricably linked to the sea, making it an outward-looking place where people and cultures have mixed since time immemorial. Barcelona's beaches are one of the city's most important public spaces, with unique characteristics that make them particularly attractive.

As a reflection of this, throughout the hotel you can admire impressive illustrations of one of the most important steamships ever to dock in the port of Barcelona, the transatlantic liner Reina Victoria Eugenia. A large image of this historic ship presides over our reception, as a tribute to the eternal link between Barcelona and the sea.

The Reina Victoria Eugenia was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, one of the most important shipyards in the United Kingdom, under the commission of the Compañía Trasatlántica Española, founded in 1881 by Antonio López and whose headquarters were in Barcelona. Launched on 26 September 1912, it was named after Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg, Queen of Spain and wife of King Alfonso XIII.

With a length of 150 metres, a top speed of 20 knots and a capacity of 1,500 passengers distributed in four classes, the Reina Victoria Eugenia was one of the most luxurious transatlantic liners of its time. It could make the journey to Montevideo in thirteen days, a record at the time. The Queen travelled on board with her entourage on an official trip to Argentina in the middle of the First World War.

For a few years, the Reina Victoria Eugenia was the largest steamship in the Spanish merchant navy. Trasatlántica assigned this ship to its South American line, where most of the Spanish and Italian emigrants who travelled on the company's ships went. The ship could carry 159 first-class passengers, 290 second-class passengers and 122 third-class passengers, as well as 805 emigrants.

Experience the sea through the shades of blue that permeate the hotel's meticulous interior design, or gaze at the shimmering waters from one of the city's most spectacular panoramic terraces. And, weather permitting, take a refreshing dip in our pool while enjoying the stunning views of the harbour and the horizon beyond.