Andalucia Coast and Country
Travel, Lifestyle and Property in Andalucia
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Andalucia Coast and Country Travel, Lifestyle and Property in Andalucia |
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Paradores of Spain - truly historic hotels!
The rest is history. The Paradores now number more than eighty hotels throughout Spain and the Canary Islands. The ‘state-owned’ tag may fill some with trepidation, but the government can build its hotels where no-one else can, guaranteeing some really spectacular locations. The majority of the Paradores are in beautiful historic buildings: castles, palaces and monasteries, where you can stay in considerable comfort while gaining a real flavour of days gone by.
We ourselves have enjoyed many memorable trips to Paradores and families should note that our children have always been made very welcome. The vast breakfast buffets are particularly popular with children! Visitors will find the atmosphere very relaxed, despite the high level of comfort, without the pretensions of premier hotels in other countries.
You might think that a stay in such unique hotels would
come with a substantial price tag, but prices are surprisingly reasonable.
Special offers are available throughout the year. Paradores can
now be booked at excellent prices through lastminute.com.
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More inspiration for your holiday in Andalucia! Plus articles on Andalucian Food and Drink! Eating and Drinking in Andalucia
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Home | Holidays in Andalucia | Property in Andalucia | Food in Andalucia | Living in Andalucia | Spain Resources | Contact Copyright©Andalucia Coast and Country 2007 All Rights Reserved |
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In 1928, in the beautiful Gredos mountains west of Madrid, a new kind of
hotel opened its doors. The Parador of Gredos was the very first of Spain’s new
state–owned Paradores chain. The location was personally selected by King
Alfonso XIII, who loved to hunt in the area. The aim was to bring more
travellers to hitherto little–known areas of Spain,
improving Spain’s image
abroad and publicising Spain’s
considerable cultural, historic and scenic assets.
The aim of the Parador is to showcase the local area –
its history, culture and, above all, gastronomy. Menus always include local
specialities and local wines, as well as traditional dishes from the rest of Spain.
Standards are high, and most Paradores boast beautiful interior design,
sympathetic to or inspired by the historic origins of the building. Above all,
a Parador will always have an unforgettable location, in the centre of a historic
town close to the sights (Merida,
Almagro), or overlooking a spectacular beach (Javea, Nerja), or set amid
beautiful rural scenery (Cazorla, Cervera de Pisuerga). 
Space does not permit a description of all the
Paradores, so I must restrict myself to a few favourites, with Sigüenza in the northern province of Guadalajara, which makes an unforgettable
stop on a journey down to Andalucia. This magnificent castle, dating from the
twelfth century, is now a magnificent hotel where guests can imagine themselves
to be back in medieval times. The first sight of the Parador left us all
speechless as we rounded the bend and saw it dominating the beautiful old town
of Sigüenza, and the interior certainly lived up to our expectations. Suits of
armour, vaulted ceilings, richly coloured tapestries and comfortable bedrooms
make a stay in this hotel a truly memorable experience. 
Our next recommendation would be Almagro, a well
preserved town in the vast plain of La Mancha, where Cervantes writes that Don
Quijote tilted at windmills! This is a really charming Parador, where
terracotta floors, green painted woodwork and typical handmade tiles
predominate, together with original artwork and a truly excellent restaurant.
The pool is a wonderful spot for relaxing after a long journey south. Guests
can enjoy an evening stroll to the Plaza Mayor, one of the most famous in Spain, where the oldest theatre in Spain is also
to be found.
Once you arrive in Andalucia itself, you have a wide
choice of Paradores to stay in, both Coastal and inland. Probably the best
known is the Parador de San Francisco in