For couples with opulent fairy-tale fantasies, it just isn’t a wedding unless you marry in a real-life palace. Nestled in Marbella between Puerto Banús and Estepona, and just under an hour’s drive from Málaga, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort is the destination wedding location of dreams.
Whether it’s a luxury minimoon, Gatsby-style soirée or grand wedding you’re after, this Tuscan-style palace is an elegant sanctuary of delicious dining, fine art and stunning grounds.
Sensational setting
This dusky-pink palatial hotel makes a grand first impression, backed by dramatic mountains and fronted by manicured lawns and a picturesque lake, with classical statues and cypress trees dotted around the gardens. There’s even a Roman-style amphitheatre. Inside, the delights keep on coming: Anantara Villa Padierna Palace is adorned with more than 1200 pieces of art from the owners’ personal collection. The art-loving Arranz-Villapadierna family built the hotel in 2003 and the atmosphere is like staying at an exclusive family home.
The easy elegance continues at the restaurants. Mediterranean gastronomy, outstanding local seafood and seasonal produce offer up a world of exquisite flavour in breath-taking indoor and outdoor venues. The food is outstanding and the attentive service is warm and unstuffy. Choose a table on the terrace at La Loggia and tuck into a tasting menu while looking out over the lake, or head to 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant for fresh sashimi. Plush guest rooms take influence from local regions, with local antiques and works of art.
Staying in style
Find a private sanctuary amid the gardens and grand halls of an Old World palace. Enjoy refined spaces tastefully embellished with works of classic art, from an intimate bridal suite for two to a sprawling two bedroom villa. Gaze over golf course greens, Andalusian mountains and manicured lawns from your private terrace.
There are some 12 room categories, from intimate superior rooms to expansive two-bedroom suites. Décor varies from palacial extravagance to calming traditional Andalucian-style.
Choose a room with a lake view for total tranquillity, or if you want to go all out, bag yourself the three-storey Obama Villa – named after previous guest Michelle Obama, who stayed here with her daughter.
The spa
For complete zen, take yourself off to the huge spa, which has scented steamrooms, saunas and an indoor pool. The outdoor pool area is also a highlight – it’s beautifully framed with palms and fountains and is incredibly peaceful.
As part of the hotel’s personal approach, bespoke experiences such as olive oil tastings, art tours and flamenco lessons are led by local gurus. And if you’re missing the beach, simply hop on the hotel shuttle, which will whisk you to the beach club in just 10 minutes.
The Anantara Villa Padierna beach club is the perfect location to enjoy an intimate pre or post-wedding dinner by the sea. Offering the same excellent food standards and hospitality, with an air of luxury the beach club is a great place to relax with family and friends.
The big day
Couples choosing to say ‘I do’ at Anantara Villa Padierna will have a choice of exclusive settings, including an instimate chapel and Roman amphitheatre.
At Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort, the wedding experts invite you to imagine your ultimate wedding journey and they will bring it to life, with a dedicated team tailoring each detail to give you the day you dreamed of.
