Meet Iliana

Meet Iliana

Meet Iliana Julian, the Cuban proprietor of the Ikahani hotel. Iliana moved to Kankaanpää in 2001, where she ran the Torikuppila café, before moving to Ikaalinen to run Ikahani.

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Local Favorite

Cuban Heritage

Ilian was born and grew up in Camaguey, Cuba's third-largest city and the capital of Camaguey Province. Founded in 1514, its symbol is a tinajón or clay pot. Local legend is that if you drink water from a "tinajón", you will meet a Camagüeyana girl, fall in love with her and never leave. Its old city resembles a maze, with narrow, short streets always turning in one direction or another. The current city has over 330,000 inhabitants.

1.Camagüey

Having met someone Finnish in Cuba, Iliana moved to Kankaanpää for romantic reasons, beginning a new life as a server then proprietor of the Kuppila café in the centre of town. She fell in love with small market town life, catering to local coffee connoisseurs and ensuring everyone had access to a bun and a beverage. Kankaanpää is a picturesque town with 12,000 residents, known for its arts scene and strong sense of community. Its popular recreational activities include hiking, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

2.Kankaanpää

Iliana heard through a friend that the Ikahani hotel - then Ikahovi - was available to rent, came to visit, and liked the place so much she decided to run it. It's now her fifth year as operator of the hotel. Ikaalinen is a charming small town in Finland, renowned for its musical traditions and cultural heritage. Surrounded by oceans of trees, it offers residents and visitors opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation. Ikaalinen is also famous for its spa, which attract visitors seeking relaxation and wellness services. Ikaalinen has just short of 7000 residents.

3.Ikaalinen