The Paradores
of Galicia, Spain
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Parador
de Ferrol, Ferrol
In the centre of Ferrol,
an attractive, seafaring city, the Parador rises up, recreating in its
image the essence of a Galician mansion with glazed galleries and a singular
marine setting. The decoration displays nautical elements, world maps and
navigational instruments in the common rooms and spaces. The main staircase
has an ancient lamp from a boat and the maritime motifs abound in the living
rooms. The bedrooms are spacious and boast ochre and dark shades; some,
with viewpoints and balconies, are favoured by magnificent views over the
port. The restaurant offers a wide and varied display of exquisite Galician
cooking. Its most representative dishes are 'pulpo a la mugardesa' (octopus
with potatoes), 'rape a la coruñesa' (Coruña style monkfish)
and 'sopa ferrolana' (seafood soup). The typical cake from Ferrol justly
heads the dessert menu. |
| A
Coruña - Santiago de Compostela |
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Parador
de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela
Mixture of history, art
and tradition, the dream of pilgrims and an emblem of Santiago, the 'Hostal
Reyes Católicos', located in the Plaza do Obradoiro, forms a magnificent
golden corner with the cathedral, imparting beauty on one of the most visited
regional capitals of the world. The 'Hostal', which originated as a Royal
Hospital in 1499 to give shelter to the numerous travellers making their
way to Santiago, today continues to invite the traveller to enjoy a universal
and fascinating city. Considered to be the oldest hotel in the world, it
is also one of the most luxurious and beautiful. It has four cloisters
of immense beauty, elegant living rooms, spectacular bedrooms and a luxurious
dining room which offers fish and meat dishes cooked 'a la gallega', in
addition to the classical caramelized apple 'filloas' (crepes) and cream. |
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Parador
de Monforte de Lemos
Situated at the highest
point of the town of Monforte de Lemos is the San Vicente do Pino monumental
complex, comprised of the Keep, the San Vicente do Pino Monastery and the
Condes de Lemos Palace; the latter two house the Parador de Monforte's
facilities. The origins of the monastery date back to the 9th century,
although the current building, erected on the site of an earlier one, is
Neo-classical and dates to the 17th century. The 16th century Condes
de Lemos Palace, located opposite the monastery, was damaged by fire and
then restored in the 18th century. The original doorway, with the shields
of Lemos and the Castro y Osorio and Enriquez families has been conserved.
Today, the palace houses the Parador's magnificent function rooms and dining
rooms. The monastery building contains a central Neo-classical cloister
of finely-worked stone; it is the monument's most interesting area in terms
of architecture, with an intelligent layout of slopes and curved channels
in the central flooring that were used to collect rain water that was then
stored in a cistern beneath the floor tiles. The monastery has been
restored and converted into a Parador with 50 rooms distributed around
the central cloister. There is also an annex building called the 'Casa
del Monte Fuerte', with a capacity for 100 guests. |
| Nogueira
de Ramuin (Ourense) |
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Parador
de Santo Estevo, Nogueira de Ramuin
The new Parador is housed
in the Santo Estevo de Rivas de Sil monastery, in Nogueira de Ramuín
(Ourense). It is located in a region populary know as the birthplace of
the 'afiladores y paraguerios' (knife sharpeners and umbrella holders)
and is one of the towns in Ourense in which the topography and the confluence
of the rivers Miño an Sil create spectacular spaces that are worth
visiting. The Monastery is one of Galicia's oldest, founded in the 6th
century a.c.e. The original construction is Romanesque, though does show
Gothic tendencies. Worth nothing are its 18th century baroque facade, its
monumental staircase and its three cloisters: 'De la portería',
'De la Cocina', and 'De los Obispos'. The latter is the only cloister in
Galicia, together with the cathedral in Tui, whose original construction
has been preserved intact. |
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Parador
de Pontevedra, Pontevedra
This Parador occupies a
palace which was formerly the residence of the Counts of Maceda. It rises
up in the historical centre of the town and combines regal, noble and stately
lines with innumerable references to a rural dream in a setting which invites
you to visit numerous coves and beaches. Distinguished, stately and illustrious
are three adjectives which define an interior where famous details, antiques
and regal style furniture abound, and there are also relaxing views over
the garden. The carved stone staircase which leads to very welcoming bedrooms
and which accentuates the stateliness and nobility of the Parador stands
out. The dining room has an aristocratic appearance, in harmony with the
rest of the common areas; mirrors, paintings and candelabra enhance the
culinary display, which alternates fish and seafood dishes with excellent
meats. |
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Parador
de Baiona Pontevedra Province
Occupying the Monterreal
Peninsula, this is one of the most extraordinary Paradores, half medieval
fortress and half Galician stately architecture. It rises up as an impressive
viewpoint over the ocean, surrounded by a walled enclosure, protected by
the sea and flanked by a beautiful pine wood. The Parador has regal and
elegant common rooms in which decorative elements from other times abound.
Stately living rooms and spacious bedrooms, many with views of the sea,
make up a grandiose interior in which the splendid stone staircase of the
entrance hall stands out. The sea-bass with razor clams in a sauce of turnip
greens, seafood dishes, Santiago cake and 'filloas' (type of crepe) make
up the varied gastronomic showcase of this Parador. |
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Parador
de Cambados, Cambados, Pontevedra Province
The former Pazo de Bazán
country house, an ancestral mansion on which construction begain in the
17th c., is located in the green landscape of the Rías Baixas, specifically
in the Ría de Arousa. Luxuriant pine groves, beaches, coves and
numerous country houses run along the Galician coast. The Parador is located
in the centre of the small town of Cambados, a short distance from the
Isla de la Toxa, and has an attractive inner courtyard in which the arcades,
the fountain and a slender palm tree stand out. It also has pleasant, bright
bedrooms with comfortable furniture, along with stone columns, wooden ceilings
and beams in the rest of the common rooms, not forgetting the garden and
a tempting swimming pool. The restaurant offers local products such as
'empanada de berberechos' (cockle pie), 'lenguado al Albariño' (sole
prepared in Albariño wine) and shellfish. |
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Parador
de Tui, Tui, Pontevedra
The Parador of the historical
town of Tui, on the border with Portugal, faithfully reproduces a rural
Galician country house, in a setting with mountains and rivers. This establishment
is ideal for sports lovers and for outdoor activities. With its granite
walls, Galician chestnut- wood floors, ceilings, beams and staircases,
it recreates the decoration of the typical local country houses. The soft
shades of the walls and the rustic furniture achieve a friendly and peaceful
atmosphere in the comfortable bedrooms. It also has a splendid swimming
pool and a beautiful garden. In the dining room it is possible to sample
succulent lamprey and delicious elvers 'a la tudense' (seasonal). A typical
dessert is Tarta San Ero. Moreover, we have an agreement with the
Nautical Club, so that all boats may dock onto a fairly large wharf. |
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Parador
de Ribadeo, Ribadeo
The Parador occupies a large
Galician house at the mouth of the Eo, a marine and tourist enclave on
the border of the Asturian coast. Its magnificent position, on the Asturian
outskirts of Galicia, offers the possibility to contemplate unique views
of the Galician countryside, the Eo estuary and the small Asturian villages
on the other shore; those which can be seen from the dining room are extraordinary.
A marine style prevails on the inside, with an air of grace and elegance.
The bedrooms are friendly and comfortable, and some have splendid panoramic
views. The restaurant offers traditional Galician cuisine with dishes such
as savory pies, pork shoulder, seafood and hearty Galician broths. |
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Parador
de Verín, Verín
Located opposite the Monterrei
fortress, the Parador recreates the construction of a traditional Galician
country house, with a central battlemented tower, beautiful, panoramic
views of the castle and Verín and the Valley's prestigious vineyards.
Some of the bedrooms have views of the refreshing swimming pool and the
gardens. 'Merluza a la gallega' (hake Galician style) and 'filloas' (type
of crepe) in cream scented with eau de vie are good examples of the gastronomy
on offer. |
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Parador
de Vilalba, Vilalba - Lugo
This impressive medieval
Galician tower, today a Parador, dominates the urban and rural landscape
of this town in Lugo, capital of the fertile region of the 'Terra Chá',
lands which grew up around this tower and in which the gentlemen of Andrade,
Counts of Vilalba, would live. The Parador offers cozy, peaceful spaces
with a medieval look; the 6 rooms located in the tower and the Salon de
los Andrade also share this style, all with mural paintings and coats of
arms. In the shadow of the tower stands the new building, wrought in stone
and in the style of a typical Galician palace, where the remaining 42 rooms,
bar, restaurant, etc., are located. Among the gastronomic specialties lacón
con grelos (cooked pork with turnip greens), empanada de raxo (pork and
potato pie), beef brochettes and the famous capón vilalbés
(capon Vilalba-style), star of the Christmas season, stand out. |
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