Balneario Termas Pallares, Alhama de Aragon, Alhama de Aragon

Advantages: unique lodging
Disadvantages: none

...Queridos Amigos! Dear Friends! When travelling in Spain you might have passed some plain signposts with the word "Parador" on it and always wanted to figure out where it leads to. Well, you are advised to give it a try if you have ever had the desire to bed your worn body not in a standard hotel room, but ? for a change - in a former monk´s cell, in an elegant mansion of a proud Andalusian count, in a knight´s chamber of a castle or even in a dormitory of a magnificent moorish palace. Since 1928 some 82 former palaces, castles and mansions in the most interesting towns all over Spain - from Aiguablava on the Costa Brava to Ayamonte on the Costa de la Luz, from Ferrol in Galicia to the Morroccan enclave Ceuta just across Gibraltar - have been restored and modernized to meet the the high demands of today´s pretentious travellers. Don... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting, well-organised and well-priced
Disadvantages: Not the first place you might think of to visit in spain

...Warrior) retook it in 1118. It was an important city during the time of Fernando de Aragon who, together with his wife Isabella, unified Spain and completed the reconquista by driving out the Moors from the kingdom of Granada. It gradually lost importance until its heroic defence against the French invaders during the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon and his brother Joseph (Pepe Botella or Joe the Drunk) who was made king of Spain. Suffering little damage during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1938 (it backed the winning side from the beginning) the city was made the capital of the autonomous region of Aragon, encompassing the provinces of Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel, in 1979 as part of the restoration of democracy after Franco's death. Sightseeing The Cathedral of the Pilar is a famous place of pilgrimage within Spain... Read review

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Advantages: Lots to see and cheap entrance fee
Disadvantages: Not suitable for all disabled people and pushchairs

.... Later, in the 15th Century, the Kings of Aragon used the castle as a prison. The Castle is really two halves of one large fortress: The Upper Castle and The Lower Castle. The Upper Castle is locally known as The Castillo Mayor, and has many parts to it. It also boasts excellent views of the surrounding area and town of Xativa. Within the Upper Castle, we found lots to see. The free guide you get is very helpful and informs you of all there is to see. One of the rooms we found is known as Cisterna I Capella Moderna De Sant Jordi. This is a modern chapel called Saint George, and it states that it was more than likely built on the site of the previous one, known as Chapel of Santa Ana Del Castillo. This chapel was about during the 14th and 15th Centuries as can be seen on an engraving dated 1564. As we walked around, we came across... Read review

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