Parador de Carmona Alcazar del Rey Don Pedro

Spain - Andalusia - Seville - Carmona

Luxury four star hotel in a fourteenth century Arabic fortress

This Parador is a triumph in the restoration of an old building for its modern use. It combines the old Arabic buildings with new construction necessary to give modern luxury.

The Parador has the Moorish style patio, wonderful halls with decorated ceilings, balconies overlooking the river below and many other treats to behold.

The decor makes full use of wood and leather furniture on rugs in rooms decorated with colourful drapes, swords and the other decorations.

The castle was enlarged by King Pedro whom it appears had an eye for the ladies - and the wealth and title to achieve his desires. Although history records that he was unsuccessful in his pursuit of his fathers mistress Leonor, the mother of his step brother and successor, Enrique.

During his frequent absences from the castle, he used to put his wife in the care of the nuns at Palencia. One of the nuns, Sister Maria Colonel, was very beautiful and the king was attracted to her. To make herself unattractive to him she disfigured her face with burning oil. Her remains are still preserved in the Convent of Santa Ines in Sevilla.

The fortress was built when the Moors from North Africa held the area. The construction was on the site of earlier fortresses of the early Iberian people and the Carthaginians.

Carmona is one of Spain's National Monument Cities and during its past has been visited by many famous rulers of the past including Julius Caesar and Muza the Arabic invader.

Julius Caesar was particularly impressed who compared the city to the beauty of the morning star.

When staying at the Parador, time must be found to walk around the city and look at the palaces, mansions, convents and churches.

This may be difficult when there is so much in the Parador itself. Of particular note is the Bermejo room, with its rugs and numerous antiques.

The courtyard has a colonnaded cloister and a Mudejar fountain. Around the fountain is:

"Oh sweet and cleansing water, crystal clear as the source of this fountain, the architect has placed you here in order to erase from memory blood shed in the most cruel of wars between princes, sons of the same king"

The refectory, now used as the dining room is one of the most beautiful of the Paradores. It specialises in seasonal and local dishes. The chef recommends that you try:

"Cartuja de perdiz" which is partridge served with vegetables;
"Espinacas" being a Carmona spicy spinach;
"Pechuga de pollo a la parrilla" roast chicken with vegetables and french fried potatoes;

The local "fiestas" in Iberia are well worth visiting. In Carmona the main feast is Nuestra Senora de Gracia which is held on 8th. September., In may the Carmona Fair is held and the Easter celebrations are well worth visiting.

On a modern note, the swimming pool 30 metres below the Parador is stunning.

This Parador has fifty one twin bedded rooms, nine double bedded rooms, and three single rooms all having private bathrooms.

In the rooms you will find a telephone, television, TV canal plus and mini bar.

The Parador has air conditioning, restaurant, bar and conference facilities.

Animals are not allowed.

This is a very popular Parador which is often fully booked. An altenative, not in the Parador group, is the Palacio de los Granados in Erija which is about 30 km to the east.

Directions

Dominating the town, the Parador de Carmona, fortress of King Pedro, is 30 km from the city of Sevilla. The main access to monumental walks around the historical centre is the E-05, Autovia de Andalucia, from Sevilla to Cordoba or vice versa.