Parador de Guadalupe

A 14th-Century Hospital Beside the Plaza de Santa María

The Parador occupies two buildings that depended on the monastery: the Hospital of San Juan Bautista, from the 14th century, and the Colegio de Infantes, from the 15th. They became a Parador in 1965 after a restoration that preserved the green tiles and glazed tiles, the lattices and the floors in the Mudéjar tradition. Inside there are white arcades, a cloister with arches and lattices of Arab inspiration and a courtyard with water features; behind, a garden and the pool. It is at Calle Marqués de la Romana, 12, next to the Plaza de Santa María, and the monastery facade is a few steps away.

Doubles, Superiors and an Accessible One

Paradores offers three room types: standard double, superior double and accessible double. Many have a terrace with a view of the monastery, as does the pool. Among the services, Paradores mentions free wifi, air conditioning, flat-screen television, minibar, a laptop-size safe, hairdryer, room service and lift. The outdoor pool is seasonal. Rates are checked by date on the Paradores website: room only, with breakfast or half board.

Pets Up to 25 Kilos

It is one of the Paradores that accept pets: one dog or cat per room, up to 25 kg, with a supplement of €30 per night. Booking with a pet is done by calling the Parador or the central reservations, because there is a limited number per night. Inside the building the animal is on a lead, carried or in a carrier, cannot be left alone in the room or enter the restaurant, and its vaccination card must be brought. Dogs considered potentially dangerous are not accepted; guide dogs always are.

By the A-5 and the Peraleda de la Mata Turning

The car park is outdoor and paid. At weekends and on public holidays the centre of Guadalupe is closed to traffic, so ask when booking how to get near with your luggage; otherwise, the car parks on Avenida Eusebio González are about ten minutes' walk away. From Madrid you get there by the A-5 taking the Peraleda de la Mata turning; from Cáceres, by Trujillo, Zorita and Logrosán; from Mérida or Badajoz, by the N-430 to Obando and then the EX-116. Trujillo is 65 km away and Monfragüe 66, according to Paradores.

The Parador restaurant opens at lunchtime and in the evening every day, with Extremaduran cooking of monastic roots; breakfast is from 7:45 to 10:45. When you step out in the morning you have the Royal Monastery opposite, and the Ermita del Humilladero a few kilometres along the Navalmoral road.