Parador de Alarcón rises from a limestone promontory encircled by the Júcar River—a defensive stronghold engineered by Arab rulers in the 8th century and seized during the Reconquista by Castilian forces in 1184. The fortress controlled the vital Castile-Aragón corridor, and its strategic dominance made occupation synonymous with territorial sovereignty. Today, this 4-star parador translates … Continue reading Parador de Alarcón: Medieval Fortress Commanding Spain’s Strategic Heartland