Parador Hotels: Spain's Gateway to History
Although travel has been a necessary function of human survival for thousands of years, it is only in the 19th Century that people began to travel frequently simply for enjoyment. We’ll call these people “tourists”. In the 1800’s companies such as (the now-defunct) Thomas Cook revolutionized the industry by offering packaged tours throughout Europe with pricing often within reach of the upper-middle class. Of course, the other half of this story was the introduction of the novel concept of giving employees “time off” or “vacation”, something that was previously unheard of. Europeans (and especially the English) began to explore the world for fun.
Parador de San Estevo Monastary (Galicia, Spain)
As is often the theme of these blog posts, Spain and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula were generally left behind in this new boom. From rail gauge compatibility issues to mountain ranges, interior Spain was not an easy destination to reach. And if you did reach it, there was no real infrastructure to support tourism. Although Spanish railways were making great domestic headway towards the end of the 19thCentury, there were still very few options for tourists that ventured beyond well-known metropolitan areas.
What Spain lacked in infrastructure, it more than made up for in potential. With hundreds of castles, monasteries, palaces, and other structures going unused, the government of Spain under the leadership of King Alfonso XIII began the process of restoring many of these beautiful ancient structures as modern hotels. The first of these establishments opened in 1928 in a restored palace in the Gredos Mountains just north of Madrid. Briefly interrupted by the Civil War and its aftermath, the network of hotels, branded as Parardores, began a period of growth that continues today.
Today, there are 95 Paradores throughout Spain. Although some are modern structures, a vast majority of them occupy remarkable historic monuments. In fact, the Parador of Santiago de Compostela, occupying a royal hospital for Pilgrims built-in 1499, is considered to be the oldest hotel structure in the world. Paradores are still owned and operated by the Government of Spain, providing an efficient and quality hospitality service dedicated to preserving the character and tradition of these invaluable monuments.
Unlike the 19th Century, today’s Spain offers a wealth of lodging options. That being said, I always consider Paradores for my clients as well for my own family. One of my favorite vacation plans in Spain is “Parador Routing”. In other words, planning routes that move from Parador to Parador. It’s a great way to get off the beaten path and enjoy a truly authentic Iberian experience. Portugal has a similar network of hotels called Pousadas which I will discuss in more detail in a future post. Like Paradores, they are relatively affordable. The service is outstanding. And perhaps more importantly, I know that I am investing in the future of these beautiful structures. I hope that your future Iberian travel plans will include the Parador experience.
