Spain’s Paradores reopens four historical properties ahead of 2028 centenary

Four Paradores have reopened in Cantabria, Navarra, and Aragon after major renovations
The renovations are part of a €250m strategy ahead of the 2028 centenary
Parador de Santillana Altamira received an €8m upgrade to 4-star status
Parador de Olite-Erriberri underwent a 17-month, €8.6m renovation
The chain aims to remodel 60pc of its network and reach 100 properties by 2028

Spain’s state-run luxury hotel network, Paradores de Turismo, has officially reopened four landmark historic properties in northern Spain following multi-million-euro renovations as part of a €250m modernisation strategy ahead of the company’s 2028 centenary celebration. The Parador de Santillana Altamira in Cantabria has been upgraded from a 3-star to a 4-star rating after an €8m overhaul and renamed to strengthen ties to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site. The Parador de Olite-Erriberri in Navarra underwent a comprehensive 17-month, €8.6m renovation inside the spectacular 15th-century Old Royal Palace of Olite.

The Parador de Sos del Rey Católico in Aragon temporarily closed for five months to maximise room comfort and completely overhaul accessibility, with the property located inside a walled medieval town offering mountain views. The Parador de Bielsa in Aragon has been upgraded and modernised alongside its regional sister properties to meet high 21st-century sustainability standards, set in the rugged scenery of the Pyrenees mountains. The extensive transformation upgrades historical guest spaces while drastically improving accessibility and green energy efficiency.

Paradores de Turismo is currently driving the largest revitalisation effort in its modern history, with the goal of remodelling 60pc of the entire hotel network before 2028. The state-run chain is on track to cross its historic 100th operational property milestone with highly anticipated openings including the Parador de Ibiza and Parador de Veruela. The renovations consciously respect architectural heritage while integrating contemporary spatial flow, lighting, and low-emission climate controls.

Raúl García, a spokesperson for Paradores de Turismo, shared: “These four reopened properties represent our commitment to preserving Spain’s architectural heritage while meeting the highest modern standards of sustainability and guest comfort, and they form part of our largest-ever investment programme.”