Homage to Catalonia

Isabel Conway experiences a break with a difference — Spain’s luxury state-run Parador hotels.

MOONLIGHT flits like quicksilver over the battlements below my window as I take temporary leave of my senses, induced by the fine regional wines that washed down delicious Catalan specialities inside a picture book castle earlier in the night.

An ancient tale of thwarted love draws many a guest, including myself, lodging at the Paradore of Cardona — a luxury hotel in a medieval setting, 80km from Barcelona — to search out room 712.