Parador de Zafra

Spain – Extremadura – Badajoz – Zafra

15th-century castle

4-star

In 1437 the Duke of Feria ordered the building of a magnificent fortress in Zafra, a town at the centre of his domain, situated between Seville and Caceres in southwest Spain. The castle – which is now the luxurious Parador de Zafra – still has the original nine towers, with castellations in the Moorish style, and there are also Baroque elements dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, when the fortress was converted into a palace. The grand interior of the Parador recalls its ducal past, with coffered ceilings, ironwork, large chests and other decorative details preserved from the old palace. In warm weather, guests may sit out in the beautiful arcaded courtyard, or relax in the outdoor pool, or simply enjoy the well-tended garden. The bedrooms, as befits a Parador with this heritage, are noble, elegant and spacious. Regional dishes available at the restaurant include lamb stewed with red wine, paprika and vegetables, Migas Extremeñas (a dish of savoury fried breadcrumbs and pork), and Solomillo ibérico al queso de los Ibores (pork sausage and Iberian pork sirloin with goat’s cheese).