We propose a fascinating journey through incredible Renaissance palaces that take us to a very special time, in which science regained its place and gave us some of the great talents of history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Rafael, Shakespeare or Cervantes.
On this tour you will discover buildings from that time, blessed by a symmetry and proportion that invokes that splendid past, in which classical antiquity appeared again to express its ideal of beauty to the world. Everything was rationality, balance, harmony… The rebirth of an entire mythology that brought with it masterpieces, such as Donatello’s David or Botticelli’s Venus, pioneers when it came to recovering the nude in art, after a thousand years buried by darkness. medieval.
Counts, dukes or marquises were at that time the inhabitants of these places that today, converted into incredible accommodations in the Paradores network, invite you to let your imagination fly and feel part of that nobility. From Jaén to Pontevedra, a purely palace tour with which you will have the opportunity to create your own (real) storybook stay. Inside, everything is magic.
In a square where all the buildings are churches or palaces, the Parador de Úbeda could not be any less. Built in the 16th century as the residence of the chaplain of the nearby chapel of El Salvador, Fernando Ortega y Salido, this regal building has the privilege of being the first palace converted into a Parador, in 1930, and also the first historic building to undergo rehabilitation complete. Because, as you will see as you continue reading, many others came later.
Sober façade, lintel balconies, a main doorway with Doric columns on which two angels carry a coat of arms… are some of the visible wonders of this building, the work of one of the best architects of the Spanish Renaissance, Andrés de Vandelvira (Cathedral of Jaén) and Luis de Vega (royal architect). Although if there is something that attracts attention, it is its beautiful corner windows on the second floor, a typical detail of the Ubetense Renaissance, which masterfully solves the angle of the two facades.
That and the central patio, one of the most beautiful in Úbeda, with semicircular arches and white marble columns, set to the sound of the water from the fountain. An evocative corner, perfect for surrendering to the recipes of Jaén cuisine, heir to the Andalusian tradition, which the Parador restaurant boasts: Úbeda tatters, pickled partridge salad, Segureño lamb, goat shoulder, yolk millefeuille, cream and cream are some of the specialties served in this accommodation, located in the heart of Úbeda, a city declared a World Heritage Site and an ideal starting point for visiting the natural parks of Cazorla, Segura and las Villas and Sierra Mágina. Culture and nature in equal parts.
Another emblematic accommodation. The former palace of the counts of Alba de Aliste (one of the most powerful families in Castile), which also functioned as a municipal hospice since the 18th century, is one of the unusual wonders of the city of Zamora. The only example of a Renaissance palace in the so-called City of Romanesque, for its Cathedral, its Castle and the entire set of churches that dot the urban area.
If something will surprise you when visiting the Parador, located in the heart of the city, it is the contrast between the regal cubic façade and the astonishing and refined interior, which boasts one of the most beautiful humanist patios of the Castilian Renaissance, constellated with heraldic shields and sheltered by a glazed wooden gallery. A space that makes you travel through past eras. That invites calm and contemplation. And delight your palate, in this land of legumes, with the delicious beans from Sanabria or the chickpeas from Fuentesaúco, which you can taste in the restaurant, along with Iberian pork and beef from Aliste, sausages, cured meats and cheeses with Designation originally. Perfect for recharging your batteries and enjoying a day surrounded by nature in the Natural Park of Los Arribes del Duero and Lake Sanabria.
The former residence of the Counts of Maceda, welcomes you with a stately staircase that takes you directly to the rooms. A refuge in the heart of the Pontevedra city, guarded by a beautiful garden paying homage to a central fountain, which provides a restful soundtrack.
The enclave is ideal for resting without leaving Pontevedra itself, which should be explored on foot, like a true pilgrim. Declared a Historical-Artistic Complex in 1951, it is one of the best preserved and largest in Galicia, a vestige of its medieval splendor and that noble past from which it has inherited numerous coats of arms and heraldic shields on its facades. From its heyday, in the midst of the Renaissance, another legacy has remained: that of a legend that attributes its foundation to one of the heroes of the Trojan War, Teucer, who went to Galicia and baptized the city Helenes. Today Teucro gives its name to a beautiful square and to one of the oldest handball teams in Spain, the Sociedad Deportiva Teucro.
Tradition is breathed in every street, in every building. And at the Parador, that feeling extends to the restaurant itself, “Casa do Barón”, whose genuine cuisine knows how to convey all the Galician essence. There you can taste dishes linked to the area such as octopus á feira, empanada del mercado, a selection of Galician cheeses, zamburiñas á grella or baked scallops. A unique and genuine experience.
Attached to the wall, in the manner of the Avila palaces to act as a second defensive belt, the strong walls of the Parador de Ávila remind us of its historical and defensive past. It was built in the 16th century, following the style of the stately homes of the Castilian Renaissance and witnessed many lives. That of the mayor of Ávila, Juan de Henao, that of the Sarmiento family, that of the aunt of Santa Teresa de Jesús (she was mistress in the primitive palace and her niece could have played in the garden) or that of the IX Marquis of Benavites, who already in the 19th century had the tower built for a large library that became the best private collection in the city.
This accommodation, located in the historic center of the city, is perfect for relaxing. The blame for this is its garden, known for the magnificent views it offers of the wall and for the collection of outdoor sculpture that it boasts. An archaeological exhibition in which there is no shortage of sarcophagi, baptismal fonts and even a berraco from the forts of the 4th century BC. Although its restaurant, dedicated to 100% Native Breed Avileña Negra Iberian beef, also has something to do with the magnetism with which this place attracts you. Regional specialties predominate on the menu such as Barco de Ávila legumes, the humble but unbeatable revolconas potatoes with torreznos and the sweets championed by the ‘Yemas de Santa Teresa’
Its building, halfway between an fortress and a Renaissance palace, boasts personality. Which gives it the palatial refinement of its rooms, the external appearance of a fortress, with its nine towers, and the rich and long history that hides within the walls. It belonged to the Dukes of Feria and hosted the Extremaduran discoverer Hernán Cortes before making the Americas, although long before all that, and even before it belonged to the order of Santiago and Doña María de Molina, Alfonso IX recovered the original Islamic fortress to Muslims. Many stories. Many centuries of life. Although it was the Dukes of Feria who gave it the grandeur that it preserves today and of which some jewels are preserved such as the impressive Gothic-Mudejar coffered ceilings of gilded and polychrome wood in the Golden Room and the chapel.
Located in the historic center of the city, declared of national interest, it is the perfect place to start exploring the streets and encounter its walls, buildings, squares and museums. Or even discover the surroundings of the Cornalvo Park, the Sierra de Hornachos or the Aracena. Of course, not before succumbing to traditional Badajoz cuisine and everything that the Extremadura pasture offers. His menu worships the shepherd’s migas with eggs, chorizo ??and bacon, the cod casserole with ratatouille, the D.O. lamb stew. Corderex, or Iberian sirloin with Torta de Barros. Although there is also room to satisfy the sweetest appetite with the delicious bishop’s hearts from the Poor Clares convent, the Almoharín figs on cream, the acorn cake and the tecula-mécula.
Peace and calm is now what this noble building conveys. One of the few constructions of these characteristics in this area, which centuries ago saw all types of civilizations and conflicts parade. Romans, Christians, Muslims, Jews… It was a convent and sheltered the Discalced Carmelites, although in 1712 it became the property of Los Larrea, one of the most influential families of the time (Don Juan de Larrea was minister of the Superior Council of Castile with Philip IV). And just a century later it became the headquarters of the French troops.
Today, however, this enclave that dominates the entire Alava plain invites you to disconnect. From the outside, contemplating the façade of the Renaissance palace, while you enjoy a good Rioja Alavesa wine. Or from the interior, in the so-called Mirador Garajo, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surroundings. And in its Aletegui restaurant, located on the top floor, in the old granary of the palace. Standard of Basque cuisine, internationally recognized, which makes seasonal products the protagonists with irresistible and flavorful dishes such as Club Ranero cod, wild mushroom pie in mushroom sauce, oxtail and goxua. And, to stay in shape, take a bike ride around the surrounding area, as the establishment is one of the accommodations in the network adapted to bike tourism, with a storage area, a repair and washing area and personalized routes so you don’t miss any of them. the attractions of the place.
