Fans of poetry might enjoy staying at this bed and breakfast that pays homage to the 16th century poet Elvira de Mendoza.
The doña, whose religious verse is lauded throughout Latin American, wrote some of her most loved poems from the nearby convent of the Regina Angelorum, where she was cloistered with another renowned contemporary, Sor Leonor de Ovando.
Inside the casa are several sitting areas for quiet discourse and a courtyard under a century-old mango tree that shelters the swimming pool (one of only two in the old city, the other is at the Sofitel Nicolás de Ovando).
Ecelectic rooms bear the titles of iconic characters of the New World: the Queen’s Honeymoon Suite features a private Jacuzzi deck replicating a Moorish bath.
Room facilities: AC. Fan. Cable TV. WIFI Internet ($). Safe ($).
Hotel facilities: Café. Bar. Pool. Concierge. Library. WIFI Internet ($). Laundry. On-site Spanish lessons. Airport transfer ($).
