Hotel Hacienda El Santiscal | History

Our story is very similar to that of many others that one day, at some point, decided to pursue their dreams ...

Back in the 80s and after having worked abroad, I decided to go home, but this time accompanied by my husband, which met in London.

When we arrived, everything was difficult, many years off, had no contacts, career or friends were scattered, each with their lives, my husband did not speak a word of Spanish, and I, to tie, ready to give birth! So with what little they had saved, we decided we had to do something and together with my family who always supported us, we rented a room in the center of town and assemble a small inn.

Needless to say, we had no idea of hospitality, or kitchen, or anything that resembles him, I Technician and my husband Tourism, Bachelor of Semitic languages, in short! Few years that made us learn hard many things, both professionally and personally and now over the years, we understand that was the prelude to what came next.

My dream was still working on my own, ie in the world of Tourism and after many laps (interpreter-guides, hotel managers, travel agency, tourism office, of OPC, etc.), By chance, told me that he had a place in the outskirts of town, which was almost in ruins, that they wanted to hire someone who had wanted to sail and after a first visit, there was love at first sight, we fell in love!

Since my life would be forever bound to Santiscal, and therefore, not only mine but that of my daughters and my husband.

With few funds, with many dreams and want to work, we took our new life in cardboard boxes putting all our books, clothes and other personal belongings, plus all the furniture that had been acquired over the years and we moved to the big house over 1,900 m2, which was in the field, 5 miles from the village, where at night one could hear the sound of silence.

We distributed the furniture as we could, as initially we had no money to buy anything for the future business and we got the whole family in one room were the outbuildings of the caretaker, no cupboards, no tables or chairs, a bed and two single the bottom bunk for our daughters and a concrete floor, high humidity, etc..., but at the end of the day, blinded by the band of love, it seemed that it was not so bad and that everything would be fine.

Years passed, days and hours of sacrifice, working days of 24 hours (there was no money for employees), continuing struggle, but always with the same determination and enthusiasm, and finally, after five years started seeing the first results ...., begin to grow, to reap the fruits of the crops and today, with our establishment opened 15 years (we were the pioneers in the Rural Tourism) recognized by the most prestigious specialized guides throughout the world, members of European Federation of Historic Accommodations and winning on multiple occasions (in fact we have been awarded the 2007 Conde Nast Johansens Award for Best European Hotel Quality-Price Ratio gathered in London), we are confident that we are not mistaken when in 1995 we fell in love with this wonderful unique building from the fifteenth century, though the story of our romance does not end here!., even, God willing, we have many years and... continue.

Francisca y Hussein
(the owners)