At Palacio de Godoy Cáceres, Curio Collection by Hilton, interior designer Szymon Keller introduces Peruvian influences and bespoke furnishings into a restored 16th-century Renaissance palace in Extremadura, Spain. His interiors balance contemporary hospitality with architectural heritage, drawing on Spanish and Andean traditions without concealing the building’s past.
The newly renovated Palacio de Godoy is undeniably beautiful, especially after its careful restoration and conversion into a design hotel within Hilton’s Curio Collection.
The Renaissance palace nestles in Cáceres, in the western region of Spain. Its original owner, Francisco de Godoy, a local conquistador who sailed to the Inca Empire, accumulated wealth and inspiration before eventually returning to his hometown. With that fortune behind him, he commissioned the residence that would bear his name, a palace that dates back to 1563. The building was, therefore, not simply an expression of Renaissance style or personal ambition. Its structure also carried the consequences of a much larger history.
Nearly five centuries later, the property found a new life as a 73-room hotel. Its transformation was developed by SCIPION Real Estate. BSV Arquitectos restored the architecture, and Álvaro de la Rosa designed the gardens. The hotel aims to offer guests an experience that blends history with stunningly crafted modern style and comfortable rooms.
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
The project is a perfect fit for Curio Collection by Hilton, a portfolio known for hotels defined by charming architecture, local character, and meaningful guest experiences. Here, Hilton brings the hospitality expertise of an international brand to this heritage landmark in the culturally rich city of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain.
In the hands of interior designer Szymon Keller, the history of the place presented him with a unique architectural puzzle. He was not working with an empty building that could serve as a blank canvas for a designer’s vision. The palace’s architecture was already there, weighted with memory, and Keller, with his keen design instinct, formulated a layer of depth for this historical monument without diminishing its significance.
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
In turning the old residence into Palacio de Godoy Cáceres, Curio Collection by Hilton, Keller sought a balance between preservation and new intervention without treating them as opposing forces, keeping the building’s original legacy intact while giving the interiors a contemporary identity of their own.
“I wanted the original architecture to remain the protagonist,” Keller says, “while introducing a contemporary language through proportion, color, materials, craftsmanship and the reinterpretation of references from both Extremadura and the Andes.”
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
Drawing on both cultures, the structure retains regional granite of Cáceres, but inside it embraces terracotta tones, Peruvian geometric patterns, bespoke furniture, woven artworks, and handcrafted details. The effect is one of juxtaposition, with Spanish grandeur and Peruvian references presented visibly side by side, grounded by the palace’s historical importance yet softened into something intimate and exceptional.
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
Keller gives these influences a substantial presence within the rooms themselves. He sees the idea most clearly in the Godoy Room, where the building’s architectural heritage meets contemporary furniture, Peruvian-style textiles, lighting and rustic details created specifically for the project.
“It is a space where the past is not reconstructed, but reinterpreted and made comfortable for contemporary life,” he says. “In that sense, it perhaps best expresses my approach to the whole project: to respect what is already there, add something of my own, and make the new layer feel as though it could have always belonged to the building.”
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
Palacio de Godoy’s past cannot be rewritten, and Keller does not attempt to hide that. He allows its intertwined complex narratives to exist alongside one another, bringing Spanish and Peruvian influences into conversation within a distinctly 21st-century setting.
Courtesy of Hilton; photography by Mood Authors
The Essentials
Palacio de Godoy Cáceres, Curio Collection by Hilton is a 73-room hotel in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Cáceres, Spain. Opened in 2025, it brings Spanish and Peruvian influences together inside a restored 16th-century landmark.
Where is Palacio de Godoy Cáceres located?
The hotel stands at Calle de Godoy in the old town of Cáceres, in the Extremadura region of western Spain. Cáceres has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 and is known for its cobbled streets and remarkably preserved historic architecture.
Who designed Palacio de Godoy Cáceres?
The transformation was developed by SCIPION Real Estate and is managed by Panoram Hotel Management. BSV Arquitectos led the architectural restoration, interior designer Szymon Keller shaped the rooms, and Álvaro de la Rosa designed the gardens, which pair native Spanish plants with American species in a nod to the historic gardens of Lima.
When did Palacio de Godoy Cáceres open?
The hotel opened in 2025, following a restoration of the 16th-century palace. The residence dates back to 1563 for the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Godoy, who made his fortune in the conquest of Peru.
What facilities does Palacio de Godoy Cáceres offer?
The hotel has 73 rooms, including eight suites. Dining centers on Mamay Aldana, the signature restaurant led by Chef Antonio Manuel Céspedes Rodríguez, alongside Bar Virú, a rooftop bar with views over the old city and the Extremadura countryside. Other amenities include a spa and grand function rooms.
