Today, 23 April, we are celebrating Book Day at Paradores. Join us on this literary journey that connects natural beauty and historic places with the immortal works of great Spanish writers. From the verses that Antonio Machado wrote in the Casa de los Poetas in Soria, and the places where Federico García Lorca found inspiration for his works, to the Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, which Valle-Inclán described as the ‘Mystical Stone Rose’, each destination comes to life amidst words and landscapes. These places not only harbour history, but also invite you to rediscover the magic that made them the muse of literature.

In Alcalá de Henares, every corner seems to whisper tales of literary greatness that span centuries. A literary route unfolds in this city, the cradle of illustrious figures, inviting visitors to explore a setting where history, art and literature intertwine. The starting point is the Parador de Alcalá de Henares, a building steeped in history, which stands just a few steps from the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the genius creator of Don Quixote de la Mancha. From this enclave, the echo of the author's words seems to guide the curious on a journey through emblematic places that reveal fragments of the writer's life and legacy.

The literary route advances gracefully towards the Plaza Puerta de Madrid, a place full of mystery, where Alonso Fernández de Avellaneda, the author who dared to confront Cervantes with his own version of the immortal work, Quixote de Avellaneda, is commemorated. Further on, the Plaza de Palacio honours Juan Ruiz, the Archpriest of Hita, whose pen gave life to the Book of Good Love, a jewel of medieval literature. In the Plaza del Padre Lecanda, the memory of Miguel de Unamuno takes centre stage, recalling the famous essayist and novelist, whose philosophical reflections left an indelible mark on Spanish culture.

Calle de la Imagen pays homage to Manuel Azaña, a key figure in Spain's contemporary history. Not far away, calles Libreros and Imagen shine with the symbolic presence of authors such as Fray Luis de León, Calderón de la Barca and Leandro Fernández de Moratín, all beacons of the prolific literature of the Golden Age.

In Calle Pedro Gumiel, we remember Mateo Alemán, pioneer of the picaresque novel, and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, an outstanding enlightened man who advocated social reforms. Along calles Colegios and Tinte, the work of Lope de Vega and the mystical poetry of San Juan de la Cruz find eternal homage, while the Renfe Station perpetuates the legacy of Camilo José Cela, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

BOOKING AT THE PARADOR DE ALCALÁ DE HENARES

The Parador de Santiago de Compostela, an emblematic place that transports visitors to times of spiritual fervour and literary creation, stands in Santiago de Compostela, where the stones seem to whisper legends and the roads converge in history. This Parador, linked to the tradition of the Way of St. James, offers an atmosphere that has inspired writers throughout the centuries. From here, the traveller can embark on a journey that connects the footsteps of one of the great writers of the Spanish language: Ramón María del Valle-Inclán.

The journey begins in the majestic Plaza del Obradoiro, a grandiose setting that Valle-Inclán lyrically described as the "mystical stone rose" in his play Tirano Banderas. Outside Santiago Cathedral, the writer's words seem to intertwine with the architecture to tell stories of spirituality and power. A few steps away, the Colegio de San Clemente de Pasantes opens its doors to the memories of Valle-Inclán's youth, where the writer forged the foundations of his literary training and character.

The Alameda Park, with its natural and serene beauty, takes us back to the walks that inspired Valle-Inclán in many of his works. The paths of the park, interspersed with greenery and calm, seem to echo the author's thoughts, converted into words that transcend time. This literary journey takes us to the Valle-Inclán Museum, a treasure trove for understanding the writer's life and work. Among manuscripts, personal objects and exhibitions, a universe unfolds that allows the visitor to enter the most intimate corners of his artistic creation.

Valle-Inclán lived not far from here, in Calle del Vico da Estación, leaving his memory imprinted. This corner of the city comes to life in several of his pages, as if the writer had impregnated the walls with his unique gaze. The Café Iruña, another essential stop, immerses us in the hustle and bustle of literary gatherings, where Valle-Inclán exchanged ideas and anecdotes with other artists, in an atmosphere of camaraderie and creative effervescence.

The tour culminates at the Casa de la Troya, a place that shines as a symbol of Valle-Inclán's literary legacy in Santiago. Here, among the stones that hold memories of his pen, the traveller can perceive the restless soul of an author whose work transformed literature into a mirror of the sublime and the grotesque.

BOOKING AT THE PARADOR DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

In Malaga, between golden sunlight and the infinite blue of the Mediterranean, a literary route unfolds that connects the legacy of Federico García Lorca with the city's rich landscape and culture.

The tour begins at the Hotel Hernán Cortés, building that today houses the headquarters of the Government Subdelegation in Malaga, located in La Caleta, where Lorca spent several summers with his family and where he shared literary gatherings with writers such as Emilio Prados and Manuel Altolaguirre. This hotel was witness to his days of rest and creativity, when conversations and ideas flowed like gentle waves. Further on, the emblematic Café Chinitas transports us to a vibrant scene of art and culture. There, Lorca and La Argentinita performed the song "En el Café de Chinitas", while the murmurs of the city mingled with the verses that echoed within its walls.

La Malagueta Beach, with its golden sand and the immensity of the sea, was a refuge for Lorca, who found an intimate connection with nature in bathing in the ocean. In his letters and poems, he left a record of his fascination with water and the life contained within. Continuing through Malaga Park, you can walk along the paths that nourished his inspiration; a serene place full of greenery that seemed to be the ideal setting for reflecting and putting thoughts on paper.

The Episcopal Palace Museum offers an in-depth look at Lorca’s legacy, with manuscripts and works that reveal the most intimate aspects of his creative mind. This space, full of art and memory, invites you to discover the indelible traces that Lorca left in Spanish literature and culture. To culminate the tour, the Plaza de la Marina opens its arms with spectacular views of the sea, a place that Lorca used to frequent to immerse himself in thoughts that probably transcended his poetry and playwriting.

Malaga, with its light and vitality, is the idyllic setting for retracing the steps of García Lorca, and it is in the city of Malaga itself that you can complete this route by staying in either of the Paradors located in this wonderful city: Parador de Málaga golf y Parador de Málaga Gribalfaro.

BOOKING AT THE PARADOR DE MÁLAGA GOLF

BOOKING AT THE PARADOR DE MÁLAGA GIBRALFARO

In Soria, amidst natural landscapes of extraordinary beauty and a history that beats in every corner, a literary route unfolds that connects visitors with the inspiration of immortal poets. The Parador de Soria, located in this region rich in culture and landscapes, offers a unique experience to explore the places that nourished the creativity of writers such as Antonio Machado and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. Every step in this land evokes the verses and legends that intertwine with the surroundings.

The tour begins at the Casa de los Poetas, a museum dedicated to Antonio Machado, where you can breathe in the essence of his work Campos de Castilla. The soul of his words and the echo of his thoughts are revealed in this former guesthouse, once the poet's home. The next stop is the Romanesque church of San Juan de Rabanera, whose solemnity was a source of inspiration for Machado and other authors who left a record of its beauty in timeless verses.

On the banks of the Duero River is the Hermitage of San Saturio, an emblematic place that emerges as a scene of spirituality and poetry. Here, both Machado and Bécquer found the source of indelible literary images. Further on, the Antonio Machado Institute opens its doors to the memory of the poet who taught French in its classrooms, leaving his mark not only on education but also on the heart of the city.

The Alameda de Cervantes, known as "La Dehesa", is a green oasis that Machado mentioned on several occasions, a place for meeting and strolling that now allows visitors to immerse themselves in the calm that nourished his inspiration. San Polo and San Saturio reflect the intimate connection between nature and literature, and are recurring scenes in both Machado's verses and in Bécquer's stories, where landscape and emotion blend in harmony.

From the Mirón, a vantage point with spectacular views of the city and the river Duero, it is easy to understand why Machado could not resist writing about the beauty of this place. Finally, the Monte de las Ánimas, immortalised by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer in his famous legend, invites the visitor to explore a space full of mystery and Gothic legends, where imagination and awe go hand in hand.

BOOKING AT THE PARADOR DE SORIA