Waking up in a medieval castle or a Benedictine monastery are experiences possible thanks to a state-owned company that mixes history and luxury in Spain. The company Paradores Nacionals de Turismo was born in 1928, with the mission of giving a new life to buildings of cultural and artistic importance spread across all 17 autonomous communities in the country.
Spain is one of the three nations with the most places defined as world heritage by Unesco. Part of these constructions was recovered by the hotel chain. The concept of paradores emerged under the reign of Alfonso 13, at the beginning of the 20th century. The idea of reusing historic buildings was innovative at the time and a way to boost tourism in the country, in addition to improving its international image.
The first parador was built among the snowy mountains of the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, in the central region of the country. And almost a century later, the chain already has 97 units spread across Spanish territory, in addition to a franchise in Portugal.
Even with the possibility of finding daily rates of BRL 400, waking up in a parador can cost up to BRL 5,000, as in the unit in Granada, Andalusia. It is a convent built on the edge of the Alhambra, a complex of gardens and palaces that preserves the history of Arab culture in the Iberian Peninsula.
Over the years, this mixture of Spanish culture and luxury has become a rage. The state network created discounts for those over 55 years old, and the Amigo dos Paradores program, which helps customers accumulate points for offers and benefits. Today, Spanish travelers nicknamed hunters of paradors opt for the network unit they want to stay even before choosing their vacation destination.
One reason for the network’s success may lie in its focus on sustainable development and urban heritage reconstruction. Another is the possibility of living a unique experience, without even having to leave the hotel. An example is the Parador Hotel dos Reis Católicos, a former hospital for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.
Located opposite the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the parador also marks the end of Europe’s most famous pilgrimage route. Its construction was ordered in 1499 to treat hikers who arrived with illnesses in the city. The structure was transformed into a parador in the 1950s, becoming one of the oldest and most luxurious hotels in the country.
Among the almost one hundred hotels that make up the company, 11 are palaces, 15 are convents and 14 are castles, such as the Parador de Cardona. The 9th-century Catalan medieval castle was turned into a hotel in 1976, but still retains its original towers and walls. Its strategic position offers unique panoramic views of the Pyrenees and the city of Cardona.
The state-owned company’s most recent hotel opened in 2020. It is the Parador Costa da Morte, in Muxía, one of the only ones in the chain with a contemporary architectural project. It was built to write a new story from the Prestige disaster. The oil tanker sank in 2002 off the Galician coast, causing an unprecedented environmental catastrophe.
“As part of all the measures taken after the tragedy, it was also decided to build a parador to boost tourism that was not yet developed on the Costa da Morte”, says Julio César Castro Marcote, director of the Muxía parador.
Unlike other establishments in the chain, Parador Costa da Morte was not created in a castle, former hospital or monastery. Its silhouette blends in with the mountains that make up the Galician coast. The project was designed to have large terraces, all with views of the sea.
Thus, little by little, the state network links the past to the present with new hotel proposals. Sustainability within the luxury market is one of the bets for the paradores of the future.
Discover some of the Spanish paradores
Parador de Gredos
AV-941, km. 10 05635. Navarredonda de Gredos
Phone: +34 920 348 048
Average daily rate: BRL 550
Granada Parador
Real de la Alhambra, s/n 18009. Granada
Phone: +34 958 221 440
Average daily rate: BRL 2,500
Parador of Santiago de Compostela
Praza do Obradoiro, 1 15705. Santiago de Compostela
Phone: +34 981 582 200
Average daily rate: BRL 1,400
Cardona Parador
Castell de Cardona, s/n 08261. Cardona
Phone: +34 938 691 275
Average daily rate: BRL 660
Costa da Morte Parador
Lugar de Lourido s/n 15.125. Muxia
Phone: +34 881 161 111
Average daily rate: BRL 490
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