The arrival of Christmas always brings memorable moments with long after-dinner conversations, extended toasts and meals where traditional flavours take centre stage. However, so much celebration can also take its toll on our bodies and minds. At Paradores, we believe that enjoying yourself is not at odds with taking care of yourself, and that the good life begins with balance.

We suggest a series of simple activities to maintain your energy and well-being before, during and after the festivities.

We often find ourselves stuck in the same destinations, repeating holidays as if convenience were synonymous with happiness. However, beyond the big cities and popular coastlines, there are lesser-known corners with a unique soul, where every street, every monument and every dish invites us to discover a new world. In these destinations, where calm and authenticity still prevail, you can enjoy the tranquillity that a Parador offers, a perfect refuge to switch off, rest and savour the best of local cuisine. Are you ready to step outside the box?

The Parador de Cuenca, renovated with an aesthetic that respects the essence of the former convent of San Pablo, has not only transformed its facilities, but has also given a significant boost to 20th-century art, consolidating its close ties with the city’s cultural history and its tradition as the epicentre of abstract art in Spain.

Nestled among the majestic mountains of the Catalan Pyrenees and just a stone's throw from the Andorran border, La Seu d'Urgell is a superb location for those seeking nature, history and culture in a single destination. In the heart of the county of Alt Urgell, this open, vibrant and monumental city combines the medieval essence of its old town with spectacular natural surroundings, located between the Cadí-Moixeró and the Alt Pirineu Natural Parks, and very close to the Aigüestortes and Lago de Sant Maurici National Park.

There are first times that you remember for the rest of your life. Your first date, your first job, your first trip that changed your outlook... and yes, the first time you stay at a Parador, too. Because it's not just another hotel, it's the gateway to a different way of travelling, where history, gastronomy and the beauty of the surroundings come together to offer you an experience with soul.

The readers' long wait has been rewarded. The Way of the Father is the last book in the trilogy of A Saga of the Ancient Family, a cult phenomenon that transcends fantasy literature. Eva García Saénz de Urturi explores universal questions such as longevity, memory and identity. Once again, the Alava-born author reaffirms her talent for constructing stories that tackle the great dilemmas of human beings.

Although the season is coming to an end, there is nothing better than continuing to enjoy its colours, aromas and flavours. Autumn is a time of gathering, of harvesting, of intense flavours that connect us to the earth. And in Spain, with its rich gastronomic tradition, there is no better way to savour this season than at the Paradores, where each dish has the region’s unique flavour. No matter where you are, there will always be a Parador nearby where you can enjoy the best of Spanish cuisine with that local touch that makes it even more special.

We return with renewed curiosity to the monastery of San Juan Bautista, known to many as "El Escorial asturiano" (the Asturian Escorial), and more familiar to all of us as the Parador de Corias. What is now a majestic hotel overlooking the Narcea River was the spiritual heart of western Asturias centuries ago. And this hidden history is precisely what we want to reveal to you today.

In the most unexpected corners of Spain rise trees that seem to defy time. They are centuries-old or even thousand-year-old specimens, silent witnesses of rural and urban history. They not only offer natural beauty but also the chance to connect with the cultural memory of each place. With the arrival of autumn, as the landscapes are cloaked in golden and ochre tones, visiting these sites becomes a twofold experience: to contemplate the majesty of nature and to delve into the soul of the communities that have safeguarded them.

As autumn progresses, the sun begins to set melancholically over the rooftops of Spain, where three cities stand out as beacons of autumnal beauty: Granada, León and Valencia. This golden triangle is not a cartographic invention, but a symphony of sensations that unfolds among fallen leaves, the aromas of traditional cuisine and a light that gently caresses the ancient stone. Each one shines with its own personality and together they form a route that invites you to rediscover the beauty of this season.