Teachers'
Travel Leisurely Touring
Castles in Spain
Accommodation
Granada - In Granada we stay at the 5-star Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula in the heart of the old city. The hotel is the result of very careful refurbishment of the old Convent of Santa Paula maintaining the old cloister. It is a unique building - a luxurious five star hotel in one of the key monuments of the historical downtown area of the city. The Palacio de Santa Paula is without doubt the best place to stay in Granada blending modern comfort with historical detail. Actually, the Palacio de Santa Paula is composed of three buildings the new modern structure in the façade and two buildings behind it. The Monastery and the Morisca annex are contemporary with the Alhambra itself, dating back to the XIVth century.
Seville - In Seville we stay at the 4 star Hotel Dona Maria. In a 14th-century former mansion, this is one of Seville's most charmingly old-fashioned hotels. There is a rooftop pool with a view of the Giralda but the best thing about the hotel is its location in the middle of the old part of Seville. www.hdmaria.com. The disadvantage is that our bus cannot pull up in front of the hotel because of the narrow streets so it is necessary to walk a bit. Luggage will be transferred by the hotel.
Avila - Here we stay at the Parador in an ideal location the heart of the old quarter backing onto the old walls for which Avila is famous. The hotel is an old palace yet with all the comforts of a modern hotel. The Parador's spacious bedrooms are very comfortable. The garden contains archaeological remains, as does the magnificent glazed patio. The dining room offers beautiful views of the garden and walls.
Parador at Oropesa - This magnificent feudal castle was the ancestral home of the Counts of Oropesa and was a refuge for soldiers, monks and nobles. The first historic building to be converted to a Parador, it has exceptional panoramic views of the Gredos mountain range and the Plain of Gredos. The keep backing onto the Parador, the columns and arcades of the courtyard, the swimming pool and exceptional views of the flat lands of the Campo Arañuelo, form a very attractive whole. Antique lamps, large chests and tapestry curtains dominate the interior decoration.
Parador at Ronda - located in the centre of the town of Ronda next to the Puente Nuevo, built in the year 1761, this Parador was formerly the town hall which was featured in Hemingway's novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls". The Parador is an impressive enclave with unique views of the Tagus, a gorge some 120 metres deep. The swimming pool and the rooms have beautiful views. The dining room serves great Andalusian style dishes.
Cordoba - we stay at the Palacio del Bailio - This exquisite 5 star hotel is ideally located in the old city within easy walking distance from the Arab City Walls, the Mosque, the Taurine Museum and the Synagogue dating from the XIV century. Formerly a palace, it is arranged around five patios, with the main patio being the most spectacular. The traditional paving of this patio has been replaced with a glass floor revealing Roman ruins buried four and a half metres below. There are many beautiful restored paintings and frescos from the nineteenth century on display. The restoration of this building has been done beautifully with original detailing such as wrought iron balcony railings, terracotta tiles, Moorish decor and a lavishly painted ceiling artfully combined with understated modern touches. Black stone from Cordoba creates a stylistic bridge leading to the lovely gardens.
About Parador Hotels: In 1910 the government of Spain assigned the Marquis de la Vega Inclán to create the "Paradores and Inns of Spain" with the aim of restoring abandoned castles, palaces and convents to preserve Spain's cultural heritage and to encourage tourism. Today the Paradors are hotels in magnificent historic buildings that once housed kings, sultans or monks. Many are in picturesque villages or atop promontories in highly scenic districts. All have modern hotel facilities. The dining rooms are superb and serve cuisine that is typical of the region.
| Castles in Spain Itinerary | Accommodation |
| Cost and Booking Details | Castles In Spain |
| Back to Teachers' Travel Home Page | |