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15th century hospice and 16th century palace buildings (4*)
The lovely Parador de Guadalupe is built in the centre of the town on the site of the palace, a grammar school and the Hospice of St John the Baptist - a 15th-century building where pilgrims could stay when visiting the next-door Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, for four centuries Spain’s most important monastery, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its arches, courtyard, white-washed walls and pantiled roof, the Parador de Guadalupe, named after Zurbarán, the famous 17th-century painter who decorated the adjacent baroque sacristy, provides an atmosphere of peace and simplicity, and particularly noteworthy are the colourful cloister terrace, the beautiful garden and the secluded outdoor swimming pool.
The style of the Parador is generally rustic, with many ornate touches of style and colour, and whitewashed walls almost throughout. You can enjoy a drink in the Mudejar-style courtyard here under the manicured lemon and orange trees, and take in the gorgeous architecture and style of the reworking of the original buildings. Or sit out on the terrace and enjoy the fountains and colourful gardens, and the panorama of terracotta-coloured rooftops and stone turrets beyond. Gaze at the impressive wooden ceilings of some of the passageways and halls, take in the decorated fireplaces and consider the ornateness and intricacy of the wall decoration and sweeping archways. The bedrooms charmingly retain the original ambience of the hospice and palace buildings, some of the standard rooms having a small mezzanine section with a desk or armchair, and the majority have traditional wooden shutters in keeping with the age of the building.
The swimming pool and terrace are open for use during the peak summer months, offering welcome relief from the midday heat and reward for a day’s walking or sightseeing.
The religious significance of Guadalupe had its origins in the late 13th century, when a local shepherd found a statue of the Virgin Mary by the banks of the Guadalupe River, thought to have been hidden from the Moorish invaders in 714. It was to Guadalupe that Christopher Columbus made a pilgrimage after his discovery of America in 1492 – after which Our Lady of Guadalupe became highly revered in the New World. Guadalupe is also located on the Silver Route, the Roman ‘Via de la Plata’, between Astorga (near Leon) and Mérida to the south, a major trade route that aided the transportation of gold, silver and copper from north to south, as mining took off at the beginning of the first century. The Moors later introduced innovative techniques in farming, notably cork production, fig and almond trees and very effective irrigation systems, which enhanced the productivity of these hot and fertile lands. Almohads and Christians fought hard over the region before its reconquest by Christian forces. Many of Spain’s famous discoverers of the New World came from Extremadura including Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru and the founder of Lima, as well as poets, architects and mystics.
Nowadays, travellers to the region are often attracted to the national park of Monfrague, a significant haven for birds and wildlife – specifically black vultures, storks, lynxes and wild cats, freshwater turtle and otters – and this park, as well as the Cornalvo Natural Park, is particularly popular with international ornithologists. The valley of Jerte is famous for the flowering of its white cherry blossom in spring and often sees many Spaniards descend onto its hillside to enjoy this tremendous display of colour – over a million trees in blossom - and the Infiernos Gorge is another major attraction. The principal locations of interest are the monastery of Guadalupe (with its revered ‘Black Madonna’), the cathedral of Plasencia and Moorish castle above Trujillo.
For seasonal Parador pool opening times please visit our information on pools page.
Breakfast is served from 7.45 to 11.00
Lunch is served from 13.30 to 15.45
Dinner is served from 20.30 to 22.45. It may be possible to arrive up to 22.15 and still enjoy a meal.
Cafe/bar is open from 11.00 to 23.00 (until 23.30 on weekends) serving bar snacks and lighter dishes.
The Parador is located in the cultural and historical centre of the town next to the Royal Monastery, a world heritage site. It is 65 km from Navalmoral de la Mata, reference point from Madrid on the A-5 road and the norther peninsula on the N-630. From Cáceres follow the N-521 to Trujillo and here change direction towards Zorita (EX208) and Logrosan-Guadalupe (EX102). Access from Portugal, Badajoz and the Southern Peninsula is routed through Mérida on the N-630. Continuing toward Madrid on the A-5, exit toward Ciudad Real on the N-430 to Obando, and then exit to the left on the EX116 until you reach Guadalupe.
There is outdoor parking at this Parador for a daily charge. Please note that on weekends and bank holidays the Plaza Real del Monasterio is pedestrianised so they advise contacting the Parador for advice on access to the Parador.
The western region of Extremadura is a home to jamón, medieval cities, Roman ruins and excellent bird-watching opportunities. The historic Paradors here are beautifully preserved and well placed to explore this region at a leisurely pace.
