PARADOR

The most beautiful parador I have stayed in, an impressive monumental 16th-century convent. I highly recommend it, and it has a very affordable price. Double shower with water pressure I would kill for at home. Plasencia doesn't offer much to visit, and in the Plaza Mayor one goes back to the eighties with the poor surviving junkies begging on the terraces...the parador and its spacious rooms, and its pool are enough to complete the visit, in any case. And the cathedral is unique. The only negative note, breakfast: the price is not worth it, the quality of paradores is, unfortunately, not what it used to be. Cheap pre-packaged ham at an Extremaduran parador, :( Also a warning about the parking; elevator for the car and very complicated spaces. A guaranteed spike in stress... The alternative is to park outside the walls after unloading the suitcases, they give you 30 min.

We stopped here on our way south, we knew nothing about Plascencia but definitely recommend a stop here. The way there was a bit confusing, but we found ourselves outside an impressive building, an ex 15th century convent turned into a Parador We had booked a 'superior room' overlooking the pool. It is a charming building, opened as a Parador in 2000. The local old town is charming too and worth a stroll round.

Beautiful hotel with top rooms!