This fall, PBS will debut the series "Spain... On the Road Again," based on an enviable Spanish road trip taken by Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassois.

We're jealous of this trip for many reasons (as well as Gwynnie's command of Spanish), but mostly because, according to Food and Wine, the famous foursome stayed at a handful of paradores--churches, palaces and monasteries converted into hotels by the government--including the nearly-impossible-to-get-into Parador de Granada. ]]> jennm 2008-08-22T09:30:14-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/4/5/23528/93435

Spain reveres its old places, and for nearly a century the government has taken the steps to turn some of its more beautiful locations into paradores -- that is, old forts, convents, fortresses, and castles, that are now sumptuous and historic hotels.

These architectural beauties preserve the heritage and culture of Spain -- it's even official policy at the paradores to serve regional cuisine -- and they're scattered all over the country, from the Meditteranean to the Basque region. The name, too, is steeped in history: the word "parador" comes from the Arabic word waradah, or "halting place."

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