A Royal History
In 1845, doctors at the Court took a decision that inadvertently changed the future of San Sebastian. At that time, skin affections of Queen Elizabeth II had become a serious problem that demanded solutions. Doctors advise His Majesty a treatment based on sea bathing. The court, on the advice of the doctors, traveled north for the summer and the city of San Sebastian became a trendy place and the most important summer center of Spain in the late nineteenth century. After the death of King Alfonso XII, which occurred in 1885, the Queen Regent Maria Cristina continued the tradition and summer after summer, carried all the glamor of the Court to the beaches of Cantabria.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the once small city had become one of the most attractive centers of holidays for all European aristocracy. Its demographic growth was spectacular. In just 45 years tripled its population, which grew from 20,823 in 1880 to 65,930 registered in 1925. San Sebastian acted as a powerful magnet for the high society. Visitors from around the world paraded through the streets and filled the terraces, especially as Europe was bleeding in the Great War and during the happy years 20th.
At that time, San Sebastian was at the forefront of innovation and industrialization. Teared down the walls that hinder growth of the city, was launched at high speed the path to modernity . So the city was a pioneer in the installation of the tramway, electric street lighting and telephone. It was also the time of the great buildings. San Sebastian was full of huge and beautiful buildings. La belle époque had arrived. Soon came the Victoria Eugenia Theater, the Casino later converted into City Hall and, above all, the impressive Hotel Maria Cristina, built in 1912 by French architect Charles Mewes, author also of the Ritz in Madrid and Paris. When the hotel opened its doors July, the first person to cross it was the Regent Maria Cristina.
In a city full of life the hotel Maria Cristina became the pride of the population with its social and cultural activities. In its luxurious rooms met the cream of society. During the First World War, hotel Maria Cristina was the meeting place of politicians and artists at first and then the stylists and Parisian fashion, with Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret and Patou Jena to the head, especially during the years postwar. In 1925, with the closure of the Casino, the city began a slow decline. The Pact of San Sebastian in 1930 brought the Republic and the heads of the various parties met here to agree a common front. In 1936, the outbreak of the Civil War put an end to the golden age of the city. During the war, the hotel was assaulted by Civil Guard units loyal to the Government of the Republic. Although the building suffered little damage, even today guests can see some holes in the facade because of the projectiles.
After the Second World War, there were several additions and renovations at the hotel. In 1948, the hand of the architect Manuel Urcola, added an area and became his old L-shaped plant in a U. In 1985, under the direction of architect José Miguel Martín Herrera, the hotel reached the rank of five stars.
The hotel of the celebrities
Since September of 1953, thanks to the International Film Festival, the name of the hotel Maria Cristina has been internationally recognized. Great and illustrious celebrities of celluloid have elected year after year the hotel Maria Cristina for their stay in the city during the Festival. Gregory Peck, Glenn Ford, Julie Andrews, Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Woody Allen, Susan Sarandon, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, Peter O´Toole, Harrison Ford , Mel Gibson or the Spanish Fernando Fernan-Gomez, Pedro Almodovar and Francisco Rabal enjoyed the hospitality and amenities of this luxury hotel. The case of the actress Bette Davis is especially unique. Very sick, and despite that doctors recommended complete rest, she did not hesitate to accept the invitation of the festival.
