Posada de San José

The house of Velázquez's son-in-law

The Posada de San José is a palatial house that was commissioned in 1621 by the maternal grandfather of Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, the Cuenca painter who married Francisca, Velázquez's daughter, and who ended up succeeding him as court painter. In 1668 the house became the Colegio de Infantes de Coro de San José, where the boys who sang in the cathedral lived and studied, and it stayed that way until the 20th century. In July 1953 it reopened as an inn under Fidel García Berlanga, brother of the film director, and in 1983 Jennifer Morter and Antonio Cortinas took it over and thoroughly restored it. It has been a Site of Cultural Interest since 2005.

It is at Ronda de Julián Romero 4, the narrow street that skirts the top of the Huécar gorge beside the cathedral: sleeping here is sleeping in the middle of the old town, with the ravine beneath your window.

Four room types, no two alike

Superior double: two spaces, king-size bed, sofa bed and balconies or large windows onto the gorge and the gardens. Double with views: no two are alike; some have a viewing gallery, others a balcony or terrace, and all look directly onto the Huécar gorge. Standard double: outward-facing, overlooking the gardens or the cathedral roofs, simple. Standard single: there are only two, outward-facing, with views of the gardens and the gorge. The nine former cells with shared bathroom closed in 2020.

The website does not publish prices outside the booking system, nor does it say anything about pets or check-in and check-out times: ask on 969 211 300 or at [email protected].

The dining room over the gorge

The restaurant is in a dining room that looks onto the gorge, with a small terrace over the gardens when the weather allows. It serves Cuenca cooking with outside influences: morteruelo, gazpacho pastor, pisto manchego and ajoarriero, alongside dishes such as a truffle omelette or confit rabbit, daily suggestions and home-made desserts, with wines and beers from the region. Let them know about allergies in advance.

The usual hours: breakfast every day (8:00 to 10:30 on weekdays, 8:30 to 11:00 at weekends); dinner Wednesday to Saturday, 19:30 to 22:30; lunch only Friday to Sunday, 13:00 to 15:30. Monday and Tuesday there is neither lunch nor dinner, and on Sunday there is no dinner. At Easter and on long weekends this changes.

Arriving with luggage

It does not advertise its own parking. Leave the car at the castle car park or one in the lower part and walk. Without a car, from the AVE station line 10 takes you to the bus station, and lines 1 and 2 go up to the old town.

From the door you walk down in a couple of minutes to the cathedral and the San Pablo bridge; for dinner out, Raff San Pedro is on Calle San Pedro, round the corner.