The island of Gran Canaria offers an enormous variety of plans. If you’re looking for sun and sand, head to the Maspalomas Dunes. It’s in the south of the island and constitutes its main tourist centre. There’s a huge beach, a field of living dunes, a palm forest and a lagoon.

A local song starts with the words “at the feet of one hundred mountains that rise all around”, and this is the case with the town of Cangas de Narcea, just two kilometres away from the Parador. The best way to discover it is to wander through its stone paved streets, full of mansion houses, palaces and churches, a reflection of the lineage of the first Asturian kings. The traditional beauty of the region combines beautiful typical buildings such as the Molino de Villajur and monuments such as the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Acebo, one of the Marian churches of Asturias.

 

More than anything, Cangas de Narcea is a natural paradise. The old stables of the Monastery of Corias are home to the Centre of the Natural Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias, where you’ll find a starting point for all kinds of hiking and adventure activities in the magical place. You shouldn’t miss the Natural Reserve of the Forest of Muniellos, the largest oak forest in Spain, where brown bears and grouse – emblems of the regional fauna – can be found. Cangas del Narcea is also the home of D.O. Cangas wine, with a wine museum, cellars and vineyards open to visitors.

The Parador de Chinchón is one of the most emblematic buildings in the town. Guests can explore in more depth by joining one of the visits that we organise every morning, where you’ll discover spaces such as the chapterhouse, the doctoral hall, the stables and the old washrooms. You could then take a walk through the old quarter, following in the footsteps of Celtiberians, Romans and Arabs in the midst of a unique cultural landscape. Chinchón, a Historical-Artistic Site since 1974, is notable for its impressive Plaza Mayor, which with more than 200 wooden balconies has appeared in many films; take a walk along one of the town’s cinematic routes and feel like you’re in a film.

 

The landscape of Chinchón, in the heart of the Vega del Tajuña, is full of vineyards and olive groves. Near the town you can explore the Wine Caves and sample some of their excellent wines. The town’s privileged location enables you to visit other famous places such as Aranjuez, Madrid and, which are all less than an hour away. And Parque Warner, the perfect experience for all the family, is just 30 km away.

The Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre offers countless trails for hiking enthusiasts. The Ruta del Roblón de Estalava to the impressive oak tree christened El Abuelo for its extraordinary longevity, the Ruta de la Tejada de Tosande and its thousand-year-old yews that are five or six metres high, and the Ruta Senda del Bosque Fósil, a trail that runs along the floor of a forest that existed 300 million years ago, are some unique options.

The best way to discover Zafra is to start at its walls. One of the most beautiful entrances is the Puerta de Jerez. From there you can walk through its streets and discover its unique buildings and monuments, which have been declared a Historic-Artistic Site of National Interest. Highlights include the Dukes of Feria Fortress, which is now a Tourism Parador; the Collegiate Church of Santa María de Candelaria, the Monastery of Santa Clara, the Convent of Santa Catalina, the churches of Santa Marina (attached to the Fortress) and del Rosario, as well as its Plaza Grande and Plaza Chica, Plaza de España and Plaza del Alcázar.

Trujillo is strongly linked to its history. Its role in the discovery of America, as the birthplace of discoverers such as Francisco Pizarro, is visible in its heritage. The equestrian statue of the discoverer in Trujillo’s Plaza Mayor is one of the city’s points of interest. Other highlights include the church of Santa María la Mayor and the church of San Martín de Tours; the houses of the most important families such as the Casa de los Orellana and the Casa de la Cadena; the Palacio de la Conquista and the castle, which is in the highest part of the town, and which offers incredible views.

The castle is the most iconic building in Sigüenza besides the cathedral, which is known for the famous Doncel sculpture. It has two towers on the main façade, which lends it a fortified appearance, and Gothic rose windows. In the town we can also visit the Romanesque church of San Vicente, the Episcopal Palace, the Renaissance church of Nuestra Señora de los Huertos and the convent of San Francisco.

Santillana del Mar, “the most beautiful village in Spain” according to the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, is a welcoming and special place since you can only visit the town on foot. Car free, this beautiful little town offers some very special routes, where you’ll fall in love with the beautiful buildings such as the Casa del Águila and la Parra, the statue of the Man of Altamira and the old town hall right in front of the Parador.

 

If Santillana is famous for one thing, it’s for the prehistoric paintings of the Caves of Altamira, the so called Sistine Chapel of Cave Art. Visits are now restricted to prevent further deterioration, but you can go to and see an exact replica at the National Museum and Interpretation Centre of Altamira. What’s more, just a few kilometres away you’ll find beautiful villages such as San Vicente de la Barquera and Comillas, where you can see El Capricho by Gaudí. If nature is what you prefer, you can relax at the nearby beaches of Urbiaco, Cobreces and Suances, or visit the spectacular natural monuments of the Cave of El Soplao or the sequoia forest of Monte Cabezón.

Santillana del Mar was declared a national monument thanks to having one of the richest historical and artistic heritages of any town in Spain. 
It is also one of the most unique towns in Cantabria, world famous for the prehistoric paintings of the Altamira Caves, considered the "Sistine Chapel" of cave art. Access to the paintings is currently restricted. 


Puebla de Sanabria is a Medieval town dominated by the Castle of the Counts of Benavente, one of the best-preserved towns in the province of Zamora, which stands on a hill overlooking the valley of the river Tera. Inside it, you can visit the battlements and the keep, as well as a library and a cultural centre.