The following travel post is provided by Guest Contributor, Holly Maguire for Escapio.com.

Packed beaches, trashy discos and Benidorm are the conscientious traveler’s Spanish nightmare. Far away from the sun worshipers and sangria, Paradores across the Iberian peninsula offer stylish, historic and environmentally friendly retreats, the ideal hideaways for nature and culture lovers.

The converted buildings range from palaces, castles and forts to former hospitals, monasteries and convents. Many of the properties are centuries old and thanks to an early 20th century government initiative, were saved from ruin with a concept to transform them into stopping points for travelers and pilgrims across the country.

Many Paradores sit beautifully in natural surroundings, protected areas and mountain locations, whilst others are in historic city centers like Granada, Santiago de Compostela and Ronda. The restaurants are the ideal way to sample traditional regional cuisine, with menus tailored to classic recipes and ingredients sourced locally and organically.

Having stayed in paradores in Andalusia — they’re a fantastic way to see a new yet truly typical side of Spain, whilst supporting local enterprises and contributing to the continuing restoration of historic buildings.

photo credit:  escapio.com