Parador de Almagro, hotel in Almagro, Spain
The Parador de Almagro is a hotel housed in a 16th-century convent building in Almagro, Castile-La Mancha. Built from brick, stone, and wood, it displays Renaissance features with mudéjar ceramic details and comprises a chapel, two wings around a small courtyard, and surrounding gardens.
The convent was founded in 1596 by Jerónimo de Ávila y de la Cueva in memory of his deceased wife Catalina de Sanabria and was run by Franciscan monks. After over 350 years of monastic life, it was closed in 1821 during secularization reforms, later used as a charitable hospital, and converted into a Parador hotel in 1979.
The name references Saint Catherine, whose statue still stands in the main altar of the chapel today. The rooms reflect the simple lifestyle of Franciscan monks, with plain details and functional spaces that express their religious order.
The hotel sits in central Almagro and is easily walkable from the town's main squares and historic streets. Its thick stone walls naturally keep rooms cool in summer and warm in winter, making for comfortable stays without excessive heating or cooling needs.
The founders, Jerónimo de Ávila and his deceased wife Catalina, rest in a crypt beneath the main altar, giving the place special significance. These hidden remains are not immediately obvious to most visitors but add a personal and moving story to the building.
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