Castillo-Palacio de los Calatravos
Perched on a rocky promontory that dominates the Alcañiz skyline, this imposing castle-palace was the regional headquarters of the Knights of Calatrava for over three centuries. The parador hotel now occupying its Gothic halls lets you sleep inside genuine medieval walls — one of the most atmospheric stays in all of Aragon.
A fortress with layers of history
The Knights of Calatrava seized Alcañiz from the Moors in 1179 and immediately began fortifying this hilltop, leaving behind a keep, a Romanesque chapel and a graceful Gothic palace that still stands largely intact today.
The 14th-century Torre del Homenaje rises above everything else in town, and climbing it rewards you with a panoramic sweep over the Guadalope river valley, the terracotta rooftops of the old quarter and the rolling olive groves stretching toward the horizon.
The painted chapel you can't miss
Inside the castle's Romanesque chapel of Santa María la Mayor, a rare cycle of 14th-century Gothic murals covers the walls — vivid scenes of the Calatrava knights in battle, painted in earthy reds and ochres that still glow after seven hundred years.
Access to the chapel is included with a guided tour of the castle, which departs from the parador reception. Even if you're not staying the night, the tour is absolutely worth booking in advance through the Parador de Alcañiz website.
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