Who is Glòria?
WE ARE ALL GLÒRIA!
In an area, with street names of Saints, surrounded by churches and convents a hotel with very unique characteristics and a very significant identity is born and hence its name Glòria, and from where we also invite all guests to be in their Glory.
We are also Glòria, our family orientated team is made up by motivated professionals prepared to give the best of themselves while working gloriously and serve you with a philosophy that we are all there to help and create an efficient but relaxed and distended service. So you can enjoy being part or Glòria and we will do everything to make your stay the best!
Here is a glimpse of the story of Glòria de Sant Jaume from her ancestors, when she was born and what she has become today. It is a project conceived by a family with enthusiasm and dedication.
History
Number 18 of the Carrer Sant Jaume has its origins according to the registry of Palma in the 16th century, conserving still some signs of the medieval construction. Since then it has passed through several owners, one of them being a Catalan aristocrat who divided the house giving a part to the church and where today there is still a convent converted into a school but where the house still conserves an adjoining room.
In the most recent history, at the end of the 19th century, the main branch of the family Palou de Comasema closely linked to the arrival of King Jaume I to Mallorca and well known for its various properties in the Balearic Islands finally fixed their residence in Palma and specifically in this house on the Carrer Sant Jaume. At that time it became known as Ca’n Palou de Comasema.
In 1870 the family made a superb renovation that modernized it and gave it its unique character of fin de siècle style to its noble floor with colourful tiling of the famous Catalan factory Escofet, tall windows, carved woodwork and large stone arches of Santanyi. Today and as evidence of the date of this reform not only are there all the unique elements but also newspaper clippings that appeared behind the wallpapers of the rooms and that give us an insight into how they lived in those times. For the interest of guests several of these clippings have been framed and hang on several corridors of the hotel.
Later in the1930’s the second floor was restored with new rooms, bathrooms and kitchen. Hence, the house has two floors of very different style but at the same time with similar character.
The Palou de Comasema family continued living in it until a few years ago when they decided to sell it and was acquired by a new family, the Cabau family, thus passing the house from one family to another.
From this point, a new chapter is opened when the Cabau family with a hotel industry background decides to transform the house into their dreamed singular hotel.
Where tradition and avant-garde find their perfect match
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Reform
Ca’n Palou de Comasema, was a raw diamond because it still kept all its unique elements in very good condition that gave it character and personality. Many of these elements are protected under the law of listed buildings of Palma which also conditioned the reformation process.
Jordi Cabau, is the founder of Cabau Hotels. Apart from his experience in hospitality he is passionate about the old and the vintage and from a young age he has supervised many building works from close by so he had the experience to devote himself body and soul to create this desired project. To develop the project he had the advice of technical experts but all the distribution, choice of materials and decoration all came from him. The main objective was to keep everything authentic so that the feeling of a manor house in Palma would not be lost.
All the original elements were removed during the first phase of the reform, which focused mainly on strengthening the structure. Throughout this period, hydraulic floors, carpentry, plaster and many more elements were meticulously restored by master craftsmen to return their splendour to be then re-located in the new distribution as a hotel.
A reform of these characteristics is full of surprises and findings that condition a day-to-day supervision where the decision making is constant and where Jordi Cabau enjoyed and often even improvised as things evolved. He never lost sight of the image he had in mind for the finished hotel. It was important to him that all areas had their own style but a common denominator in all its spaces.
The reform process lasted 19 months without counting the months prior to obtaining licenses. This process was very laborious and complicated because of the location of the house in a street of the old town with complicated access and the impossibility of using mechanical lifting means, so all the work was done by hand with the consequent increase in time and cost.
Finally, the day arrived when everything was finished, a moment of great pride and emotion for the Cabau family as the result was acclaimed by all as something very special and out of the ordinary.
The number 18, then became the Hotel Glòria de Sant Jaume with 14 luxury rooms, an indoor pool and spa, roof-top sun terrace with outdoor jacuzzi, bar and restaurant. With an unparalleled character and personality since the philosophy of maintaining and exalting the authentic had endured and customers would feel in an authentic manor house in Palma.
Mission accomplished, we are glorious - Jordi Cabau CEO Cabau Hotels
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Decoration
For decoration Jordi Cabau had the unconditional support of his wife Heidi Wolf who is the person who has managed to convert the house into a home.
The decorative process was developed throughout the reform process. Being faithful to the premise of respecting and recovering all the available singular elements to the maximum, the rest of the decoration was developed by combining them with new generation materials as well as vintage-style decorative details without losing sight of the existence of a common thread in all the areas.
All rooms have tiled floors, most of them original. Where not, they were sent to manufacture according to the designs and ideas of Jordi Cabau to the Huguet factory in Campos to complete the areas where they were not enough. The bathrooms, although with layout changes, maintain the same style in all rooms with Carrara marble and retro style fittings in all.
The high ceilings that reign on the first floor had decorative moldings of the time, these were restored and re-inserted in the new plasterboard ceilings to recover their authentic and spectacular look of the time.
A master cabinetmaker hand made all the mahogany handrail of the staircase that leads to all the floors of the hotel. It is a very unique new piece that will last in time. Precisely this is another of the pillars of the decoration of Jordi, created within an old house a timeless style that will last along with the original walls for many years.
Heidi Wolf, has given life to the spaces, taking care of every detail. Parallel to the building work process was choosing the furniture where she opted for the colonial line of the firm Roche Bobois but combining it in many cases with restored antique furniture that dominate some spaces due to their uniqueness and beauty.
She very carefully selected the colours and textures of all the textile elements of the rooms and common areas to give this final touch of joy and modernity to the rooms.
Finally, the magical touches were missing! Sculptures and original works of art were placed to make the spaces feel more welcoming and personal that in the end close the circle so that customers feel at home. Without forgetting the plants and the natural flowers to add life and of which Heidi enjoys taking care of on a day to day basis.
The hotel is full of corners and details, in every visit you discover something new!
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Experiences
Experience
Romantic Experience
