Parador hotels are fabulous places to stay. They can be found all over Spain with many of them situated in buildings that are centuries old which have been refurbished to preserve their original features while offering every modern amenity. They are luxurious hotels offering outstanding architecture, history, local gourmet cuisine and excellent service.

Parador Hotels were the brainchild of King Alphonse XIII in 1926 as a way to promote tourism while protecting the artistic heritage of Spain, especially in regions with limited economic resources. Now there are almost 90 of them in beautiful settings occupying medieval castles, Arab fortresses, monasteries, old manor houses and palaces.

Because there is usually only a few hours drive between one parador and the next, they offer an ideal way to explore areas off the beaten track. In Andalucia you can visit the following Paradors:

Parador La Arruzafa in Cordoba is built on the site of the small summer palace of the Arab caliph Abdu’r-Raman. It is on a hill at the foot of the Cordoba Mountains just 3km from the town, offering exceptional views of the Pedroches Valley which has the biggest oak forest in Europe and an important wildlife reserve. It is surrounded by large gardens with a swimming pool, tennis court, orange groves and palm trees. The restaurant serves local specialities including salmorejo cordobés, gazpacho blanco de almendras and steak in green sauce

The Parador de Granada is in a magnificent fifteenth century convent standing in the extensive gardens of the Alhambra Palace. It is surrounded by spectacular fountains, outdoor patios and fabulous gardens.

To maintain exclusivity, the Parador de Granada offers only 36 double rooms and suites with stunning views of the Albaicin, Generalife and Secano Gardens.

The Parador de Jaen was originally a 13th century Arabic fortress which stands on Santa Catalina Hill. It is approximately 5 km from Jaen and offers an outdoor swimming pool and large grounds where you can walk or just relax.

The Parador de Malaga Gibralfaro is on a mountainside overlooking the sea, castle and city of Malaga. It is a small hotel with 33 double rooms and 5 single rooms offering an exclusive atmosphere with personalised service. There is an excellent restaurant which specialises in Andalusian cuisine, and on the top floor is a swimming pool with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

The Parador de Malaga Golf stands in a quiet seafront location surrounded by gardens and a golf course. It is just 9 km from the harbour and the commercial centre of Malaga with all its shops, restaurants and bars.

The parador has an outdoor swimming pool and its own 18 golf course with three putting greens and a golf school.

The Parador de Ceuta is a modern building next to the ancient Royal Walls in the Plaza de Nuestra Señora de África in the centre of Ceuta. It overlooks the sea, historic city centre and Costa del Sol coastline. It served as an impregnable fortress for centuries with the vaults of the artillery stores built in the city walls and now used as suites.

The interior of the Parador de Ceuta has predominantly Arabic décor with modern furniture. The restaurant is full of beautiful plants and serves a combination of traditional Andalusian and Arabic dishes using locally caught fresh fish.

The Parador de Ronda stands in the heart of the beautiful and traditional town of Ronda on a cliff by the Tajo Gorge and famous Puente Nuevo bridge. The building the parador occupies was built in 1761 and used to be Ronda’s town hall at Ronda. Most of the guestrooms have stunning views of the gorge, the bridge and the surrounding area.

The modern Parador de Antequera is a large building in a quiet location surrounded by large subtropical gardens with a swimming pool. It is a perfect retreat if you want to relax and unwind with spacious inner rooms decorated in light tones to complement the rich wood ceilings, panelled walls and floors.

The restaurant specialises in the traditional local dishes of the Malaga area and offers an exceptional menu and extensive wine list.

The Parador de Nerja stands in large subtropical gardens with a swimming pool on a cliff overlooking the sea. It is just 15 minutes from Nerja’s old quarter, the Balcon de Europa, the magnificent caves (3 km) and the traditional white village of Frigliana (6 km),

Like most restaurants in the town of Nerja the parador specialises in seafood. Fritura de pescaitos (small fried fish) is one of the recommended local dishes that should be tried.

The Parador de Carmona is located to the northeast of Seville on the Road to Cordoba. It is on the site of an Arabic fortress which was build during the Moorish occupation which dates back to the fourteenth century overlooking the fertile plains of the River Corbones. Carmona is one of Spain’s National Monument Cities and is a beautiful place to stay and explore.

The Parador de Carmona has a swimming with spectacular views of the surrounding area, a Moorish courtyard, Mudejar fountain, Bermejo function room which is crammed full of rugs and numerous antiques and stunning rooms with decorated ceilings and balconies overlooking the river below.

The old refectory is now used as a dining room and is regarded as one of the most beautiful of the Paradors. It specialises in seasonal and local dishes and some of the chef’s recommendations are partridge served with vegetables; Carmona spicy spinach and roast chicken with vegetables and fried potatoes.

Please visit the official Parador website in english