Parador de Cáceres

Calle Ancha, inside the walled enclosure

The Parador de Cáceres is not on the outskirts or beside the wall: it is inside, on Calle Ancha, in the upper part of the monumental city. From the door you walk down to the Plaza Mayor and the Arco de la Estrella in about five minutes, and Plaza de San Jorge, the Santa María co-cathedral and the Golfines de Abajo palace are a short walk along cobbled streets. That is the reason to sleep here: at night, when the groups leave, the old city is yours.

The building is two joined palaces. The house of Ovando-Mogollón, Perero and Paredes is Gothic; the palace of the Marquises of Torreorgaz is too, though its neoclassical façade was added in the 18th century and is now the main entrance. Inside remain cobbled courtyards and enclosures, wooden beams, the original fireplace in the lounge, one of the few towers the city keeps and a 2nd-century Roman tombstone with its inscription.

The car and the restricted zone

This is the first thing to know. Calle Ancha is in a restricted-traffic zone. With a booking you can enter, but you must give your registration at reception when you check in, or the fine will come to you. Paradores expressly asks that you do not put the parador's address into your satnav: programme Calle San Ildefonso 1, drive up to Plaza de Santa Clara, walk the few metres to reception and there they tell you where to park. If you arrive by train or bus, a taxi to Plaza de Santa Clara saves you the climb with the suitcase.

Rooms, breakfast and dining room

There are two room types: standard double and accessible double. All have air conditioning, a safe with room for a laptop, minibar, flat-screen television with Chromecast and access to digital press. The hotel has a lift, garden, terrace, room service and meeting rooms.

Breakfast is served Monday to Friday 8:00 to 11:00 and Saturdays and Sundays 8:30 to 11:00. The café is open from 11:30 to 23:00. The parador restaurant serves lunch every day 13:30 to 16:00 and dinner 20:30 to 22:30 Sunday to Thursday, and 21:00 to 23:00 Friday and Saturday, with Extremaduran cooking: zorongollo, Iberian sirloin with torta del Casar, migas. When booking you can choose room only, with breakfast or half board.

Before booking

The website does not publish this parador's pet policy or check-in and check-out times: ask when booking on 927 211 759 or at [email protected]. If you are after something else in the same old town, Atrio is a few minutes away, with its haute-cuisine restaurant.