Reviews of the prestigious Parador hotels of Andalucia. As well as being located in historic buildings such as castles, palaces and convents, other, modern buildings are designed to open up fascinating – but less well-known – areas to tourism.
The Parador de Nerja is a family beach hotel. This is a modern establishment with 98 comfortable rooms, most of whose ample balconies look out to sea, lovely lawns along the clifftop, and an outdoor swimming pool for the summer visitors who come to enjoy the eastern Costa del Sol.
Under the Nasrids, it was the site of the early 14th century Palace. Later, when the Catholic Monarchs were besieging Granada, Queen Isabella I of Castile vowed that, after the victory, she would build a shrine in the Alhambra to her beloved Saint Francis.
These Paradors are located in the city or countryside and were constructed as modern contemporary paradors as opposed to historic buildings. They are ideal for a family holiday and all have outdoor swimming pools open in the summer. All have ample grounds and easy access and parking facilities.
Many of Andalucia´s famous paradors are located on the coast, providing direct access to the beach and Mediterranean sea. Many of the rooms at these hotels have private balconies or terraces from where you can sit and enjoy the coastal breeze whilst soaking up the hot Spanish sun.
The Ronda Parador is an interesting mix of old and new architecture, with views of the busy and picturesque Plaza de España on one side, and the breathtaking gorge on the other, as well as the 18th century Puente Nuevo bridge that is adjacent to the building. This is an excellent, convenient base for exploring Ronda.
The most outstanding feature of this hotel is its location right inside the Doñana Natural Park, which is the protected area surrounding the Doñana National Park. It is perched on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
This hotel is a unique concept in Paradores as it is the only golf hotel in the chain. A comfortable, modern and cosy facility with banquet facilities and a lovely dining room, this Parador is right on the edge of the Costa del Sol with an undeveloped stretch of beach right in front of the hotel and a beachside promenade to the right (if you are looking at the hotel towards the sea) that now provides a thoroughly enjoyable walk to nearby Torremolinos.
There is no better way to see Málaga than from the Gibralfaro Castle Parador. Built on a hilltop, next to the Alcazaba fortress and overlooking the city, the port and especially the bullring.
The Parador in Córdoba is in the northern part of the city of Córdoba, and provides the perfect starting point for discovering the wonders of Córdoba province. It is built upon the ruins of the summer palace of Abderramán I. Nestled into the foothills of the Córdoban mountain range and surrounded by trees and greenery this location is reported to be about 4 degrees cooler than the provincial capital.
