Palacio de Marquesa… A Retreat, A Tribute, A Sanctuary


you feel as if you have entered into a Spanish palace. The natural and cultural beauty of Taos began drawing artists in the early 1900s and a number of very notable women artists settled there including Millicent Rogers, Mable Dodge Luhan, Agnes Martin, and Georgia O’Keeffe. The design concept of Palacio de Marquesa pays tribute to the remarkable stories of these women of Taos. The spirit, drive, innovation and contributions are clear to see in the hotel’s timeless design and refined sophistication. With names like Diva, Icon, Matriarch and Socialite, it’s easy to imagine the design and feel of the guest rooms. We were lucky enough to stay in the Socialite room which is a dedication to Mil- licent Rogers. The “Standard Oil Heiress” was a prominent New York socialite. She arrived in Taos in 1947 with a broken heart from a relationship with Clark Gable. As “Gone With The Wind” is one of my all-time favorite movies, it was no coincidence to me that this was the room given to us! The scenic beauty and Native American culture in Taos was a large inspiration to Millicent and she was captivated by the intricate details of Native American jewelry. An advocate and proponent of Indian rights, she successfully lob- bied Washington D.C. for Native American art to be classified as historic, and therefore protected. Millicent gifted Taos with a strong legacy of art, design and craftsmanship. But let’s get to the room! As soon as I opened the door and stepped inside, my jaw dropped. Expecting a classic adobe style design, I was delighted to see what looked like an exotic suite in Greece or the Mediterranean. Gorgeous ocean colors of blues and greens filled the room against crisp white bed linens, furniture and walls. The king canopy bed was amazing and so luxurious you’d never want to get out of it. We had a large gas-log fireplace flanked by leather wing back chairs in our room and an arched picture window faced the patio fountains and flower beds. The bathroom was exquisite with radiant heat, marble floors and rainfall showers. Some rooms even include a jacuzzi tub and steam shower! Walking through the grounds of Palacio de Marquesa makes


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you feel like you have escaped to a European villa. At night, the courtyard is lit with beautiful, soft white lights and the gardens of the inn provide a lush sanctuary with lovely fountains, tranquil


16 Essential Living Maine ~ December 2014


estled in the beautiful mountainside town of Taos, New Mexico, the Palacio de Marquesa is truly the perfect, peace- ful sanctuary. From the moment you step onto the grounds,


nooks, wildflowers and a number of giant towering cottonwood and willow trees. Pure relaxation. In the morning, an amazing homemade breakfast awaits you in the main house and the Inn- keeper, Chad, is ready to assist you with any need you may have including breakfast delivered to your room, a picnic lunch and even chocolate truffles! You can also feel good about staying here a portion of every room night’s revenue is donated to local culturally and artistically significant endeavors. Taos beckons to artists, innovators and those seeking an escape to find themselves. Surrounded by magnificent natural features including Taos Mountain and the Rio Grande Gorge, it’s a haven for outdoor recreation including world-class skiing, snowboard- ing, white-water rafting, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding and more. The rich and diverse history of Taos is defined by the Native American and Spanish communities. In fact, we visited the Taos Pueblo which has been occupied for nearly a millennium and is the oldest continuously-inhabited community in the United States. The Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taos has a rich Spanish history as it was settled during the Spanish conquest in the 1600s and it definitely has the feel of an old Span- ish village. Walking distance from the Palacio de Marquesa are a mul- titude of eclectic shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and more. You can spend hours winding through the cobblestone streets finding funky clothing, jewelry and art. However, just a short drive away is the Taos Mesa Brewing Company – which looks like it’s housed in an old airplane hangar – great beers and live music on most nights. We dined at two places that are not to be missed – Aceq and El Meze. Aceq only seats 25 and you feel as if you’ve just stepped into someone’s home to eat dinner, however, they served the best chicken and waffles I’ve ever had! El Meze is a cozy, ro- mantic spot with fresh, regionally inspired, local food. We had an amazing house made pasta with local mushrooms, asparagus, fresh greens, olive oil and shaved Manchego cheese. Delicious! Whether it’s to relax and rejuvenate or a spiritual retreat, I


couldn’t imagine a better place than Taos and the Palacio de Mar- quesa. For more information, visit http://www.marquesataos.com/.


For dining information, visit http://www.elmeze.com/ and http:// www.aceqrestaurant.com.


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