Paradors of Spain - What is a Parador?
I love a good Parador. Whatever city I visit if there is a Parador there I have to go, if only for coffee, or depending on the time of day, a beer. The older they are the better I like them. Modern buildings don´t tick my boxes so much, but once inside a Parador is a Parador. A touch of good ol´ service and reliable standards. Gredos Parador Founded by King Alfonso XIII, there are at present there are 96 hotels in the government run chain, a few less than when my passion for them began! Five are located in the Canary Islands, one each in Ceuta and Melilla (Spainish territories in Northern Africa) leaving 89 on mainland Spain - I haven´t been to them all, not even nearly, but have been to most of the 19 in Andalucia. There is now also one in Portugal, There are urban ones, country ones and historical ones in incredible locations and gorgeous buildings. The first one opened its doors in 1928 and then grew under Franco´s regime to one in every province (there are 50 provinces, in 17 regi