The Parador is located in a former 17th-century convent in one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
In the heart of the province of Ciudad Real , immersed in the Campo de Calatrava region, we find the picturesque village of Almagro , which is part of the association of "The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain." This Castilian-La Mancha town is famous for being home to the only Corral de Comedias (Comedy Corral) , which has remained intact and active since the early 17th century. This has become the town's emblem, but other historic sites also stand out, such as the Convent of Santa Catalina, which today houses a fantastic Parador Nacional de Turismo (National Tourist Hotel ).
Renaissance architecture of the Toledo SchoolThe Convent of Santa Catalina was built in the 17th century and is "a clear example of Renaissance convent architecture from the Toledo School, as simple as the canons of the Franciscan order dictate," explains Almagro City Council. Originally, the temple consisted of a small building surrounded by a large orchard, but it underwent two extensions in the 18th and 19th centuries when new naves and several Baroque chapels were built within the church.
In 1850, when the convent was in the hands of the town council, it was transformed into a charity hospital until the Franciscans returned in 1877. The order finally abandoned the convent in 1942 due to the small number of friars living there.
A journey through history and traditional gastronomySince 1979, the building has been home to the Parador Nacional de Turismo. Combining Renaissance and Baroque styles and finished with Mudejar-style tiling, this convent transports guests back in time and allows them to experience four centuries of history. It boasts no less than 14 interior courtyards , galleries, a swimming pool, and hallways with characteristic blue beams and traditional geometric tiles.
In addition to its comfortable rooms, visitors can enjoy a delicious restaurant serving traditional La Mancha cuisine . Among the specialties, you can try La Mancha stews, Almagro eggplants, roast lamb, lamb chops, DO La Mancha cheeses, shepherd's crumbs, gachas, duelos y quebrantos, and La Mancha ratatouille.
How to get to AlmagroThe journey between Ciudad Real and Almagro takes just 25 minutes via the CM-45; from Toledo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes via the CM-42 and the A-4; and from Madrid , it takes 2 hours and 20 minutes via the A-4.
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