They buy a convent to transform it into a luxury hotel

The hotel landscape of Granada, Spain, is undergoing a major transformation with the official acquisition of the Convento de Santa Inés, located in the heart of the historic Bajo Albaicín district, by the Didra Group for an estimated €1.5 million.

This ambitious project, spearheaded by brothers Jaime and Francisco de Borja Ardid Martínez-Bordiú—direct descendants of dictator Francisco Franco and rising stars in luxury real estate—aims to transform this nearly 5,000-square-meter religious building into an exclusive luxury hotel.

The operation is part of the group’s expansion strategy, which already includes renowned establishments such as the Bless Hotel in Madrid, and underscores the growing appeal of the Andalusian city for ultra-luxury tourism.

Located on Calle San Juan de los Reyes, this historic building will undergo meticulous restoration designed to preserve its unique architectural character while integrating world-class amenities (spa, fine dining, panoramic suites).

While the conversion of convents into hotels is not unprecedented in Granada—as exemplified by the Palacio de Santa Paula—this new project is attracting particular attention due to the investors’ profile and the property’s exceptional location, nestled within a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This transaction confirms the trend of religious orders selling their urban real estate to finance their missions, thus enabling the rehabilitation of heritage gems into key hubs of the modern tourism economy.