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The Parador of Alarcon is located about 200 km. southeast of Madrid directly below Cuenca. Twelve hundred years ago, a prince of the Visigoths was out hunting and came upon a rugged and rocky hill almost completely encircled by a river. He thought it a perfect place to build a fortress. His father, King Alaric, came back to inspect the site and did build a castle there. The town and the Parador still bear his name.

The Alarcon Parador has thick stone walls set with turrets surrounding it and the small town. One of these towers (called a coracha) is right down on the river Jucar. It was from under this one that the ancient townspeople could obtain water during a siege.

The castle was controlled by the Moors for hundreds of years. In 1184, after a long unsuccessful siege, a brave knight climbed the walls one night by using two daggers to wedge into the slits in the great stones that form the walls. He got over and opened the doors from within allowing King Alfonso VIII and his forces in to recapture the castle for the Christian re-conquest. Many years later, Queen Isabel had to put down a rebellion of sorts here by some of her powerful yet disloyal barons.

The Parador of Alarcon is the kind of place castle lovers dream of. It looks and feels like a castle, and one can literally sense the history of the place as a palpable presence. It’s setting is spectacular, and the approach is unforgettable - transporting the traveler not only to the castle, but seemingly back in time as well!

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Alarcon:

- The medieval old town of Alarcon.

- The wonderful Iglesia de Santa Maria.

- The old town hall on the main plaza.

Interesting day trips include:

- Cuenca - The city of the famous “casas colgadas” (hanging houses). Cuenca is a Unesco-declared World Heritage site, and should be considered a “must see.”

- Belmonte - Be sure and drive over to Belmonte to see the wonderful old, abandoned, yet well-preserved 15th century castle ruins there. You can climb up into the towers and walk around inside the grounds. The Belmonte castle has a rare and beautiful triangular patio. If you go on a weekday - you’ll likely have it all to yourself.

For travelers who like to visit relatively un-touristed locations that, nevertheless, exude an air of historical significance - and especially for aficionados of wonderful old castles - the Alarcon Parador is a near-perfect destination.

SpainParador.com makes it easy for you to plan and arrange your next trip to Spain. This time stay in palaces, castles, and other places of great historical interest and rare beauty - the wonderful Paradors of Spain. http://www.SpainParador.com

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This Parador in Malaga is located on the famous “Costa Del Sol” of Spain. There are great views of the sea from the Parador which has a ‘look-out’ postion over the city. It sits next to an centuries-old Moorish fortress (Alcazaba) - the Gibralfaro.

In ancient times, there was kept lit a fire on this hill that guided the ships out at sea into the harbor of the city (this is how the name Gibralfaro came about; “gibral” = mountain, “faro” = light).

The Parador of Malaga is surrounded by pretty pine trees and has extensive garden areas. There is a swimming pool on the top where you can swim and lounge with the incredible views. As well, each bedroom has it’s own small balcony and views.

The restaurant at Parador Malaga offers a superb menu that specializes in sea food and typical Andalusian cuisine.

The city of Malaga is the gateway to the Costa Del Sol, but - if that’s where you’re headed - do stop awhile in this wonderful city and visit before moving on to the “sun and sand.” Malaga has one of the busiest ports in Andalucia, fine golf courses and restaurants, and a host of things to keep travelers busy and entertained during their visit.

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Malaga:

- The Moorish Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro. These are right near the Parador of Malaga and best preserve what remains architecturally of the once-powerful Moorish controllers of this city. Climb up on the old walls of the castle and get a great view out over the city.

- The new Picasso Museum (Picasso was a native son of Malaga).

- The city’s central zone has some interesting churches and other museums worth visiting.

- The Alameda Principal is a great place to stroll and watch the busy Malague

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The Parador of Merida is another of the Paradores that is located on the “ruta de la plata” - which may be the oldest road in Europe. Built by the Romans, the road got it’s name (plata) from the type of stones with which it was paved - called balatha.

The Merida Parador is housed in a building that has a very long history. It has been controlled by Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians, and has gone through times of being a Roman forum and temple, a mosque, a church, a hospital, a jail - and now a very fine Parador hotel.

Most of the ancient vestiges that remain in the Parador of Merida are from the monastery built by the Franciscans in the 15th century. It has a very lovely patio surrounded by arches supported by marble columns. The lounge is the former chapel and has an extraordinarily beautiful ceiling. The Parador of Merida has a serene air and really is one of the prettiest in the Parador chain.

The city of Merida has a fascinating history. Founded around 25 B.C. by the Romans, it was at one time one of the most splendid cities in all of Iberia and was actually the capital of Lusitania (the Roman name for what we now call Portugal). There are more Roman ruins here than anywhere else in Spain, and they make for appealing site-seeing.

Interesting nearby excursions from Parador Merida into the city and nearby environs:

- The Roman Bridge: at a half-mile in length, this was the longest Roman-built bridge in Spain. It has now been closed to car traffic, so you can stroll leisurely and peacefully out across the river Guadiana and take in the views back to the city.

- The Roman Amphitheater: When it was operating in the 1st century B.C. - this grand place seated 15 thousand - who came to watch gladiators and chariot races and fake sea battles (they actually flooded the arena so mock ships could float inside the amphitheater!).

- The Roman Aqueduct: Aqueducto de los Milagros isn’t nearly as well preserved as the one in Segovia, but it has a “haunting” feel to it and harkens back to pre-Biblical times.

- The Alcazaba: This fairly well preserved Moorish castle-fortress was later used by the Knights of Santiago.

- The National Museum of Roman Art: Well worth a visit - it contains all manner of archeologically interesting remains from Roman times.

- There are many other wonderful things to see in Merida - try to stay a few days in order to do this magnificent city justice.

Interesting day trips from the Parador of Merida include:

- Caceres: 68 kilometers to the north is one of the finest “monumental” towns in Spain and has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO.

- Trujillo: 90 kilometers away - Trujillo is a simple treasure . . . Spain as it once was, and with a plaza to rival any other in Spain.

- Zafra: 60 kilometers to the south - Zafra is a pleasant town to visit (and there is a Parador there for you to stay at if you prefer).

The Parador Merida is a fine place to stay, and it is located in one of the most interesting cities you’ll ever visit. Don’t hesitate to enjoy this unique combinations of experiences if you are ever traveling in this “out-back” area of Spain - the far west of Extremadura.

SpainParador.com makes it easy for you to plan and arrange your next trip to Spain. This time stay in palaces, castles, and other places of great historical interest and rare beauty - the wonderful Paradors of Spain.

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