Parador de Benavente ****
P Ramon y Cajal, s/n
49600 - Benavente (Zamora)
Spain

Zamora Province

RENAISSANCE STYLE CASTLE-PALACE
The seat of parliament in 1202, this Renaissance style castle was built by order of Fernando II de León and forms part of the former walled enclosure of the town. Practically razed to the ground in 1808 during the Peninsular War, it conserves the monumental Torre del Caracol, where there is a living room with an admirable Mudejar coffered ceiling. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the interior contains classical decorative elements such as rugs, forged lamps, coffered ceilings, wood and Castilian bricks. Its spectacular living rooms are duly equipped to promote their functional value as spaces for social gatherings. The dreamy bedrooms are comfortable, and the restaurant offers the region's gastronomic array: 'arroz a la zamorana' (Zamora-style rice), 'dos y pingada' (fried dish) and the sweet 'rebojo zamorano'.

Typical festivals

* Toro Enmaromado eve of Corpus, Benavente
* Holy Week Zamora, 65 km.
* Virgen de la Vega Patron saint of the town
* Fair of the Pepper (Pimiento) end of September

Visits

* Benavente. Romanesque churches.
* Santa Marta de Tera (32 km). Romanesque parish church.
* Villafáfila (28 km). Lagoon Nature Reserve.
* Puebla de Sanabria (82 km). Castle, Romanesque church, Sanabria Lake
* Granja de Moreruela (35 km). Ruins of monastery
* Arqueologic Route (30 km). Tera Route (80 km). Sierra de la Culebra Route (50 km). Tierra de Campos Route (50 km). Orbigo Route (25 km)

Enjoy the delicious Zamora cuisine The Parador restaurant presents to you the gastronomical offer of this territory. Zamora rice, 'dos y pingada', and 'rebojo zamorano' (bread crust) are some of the courses eaten here.