I look back with delight at our time staying at the Parador in Tui, a small, Galician town that sits along the Miño River that divides Spain and Portugal. A modern property designed in the style of a country manor house, the Parador was a marvelous place to relax and unwind.
The views of the Miño River, especially around sunset, were incredible.
Our room was excellent. Not overly large, but comfortable with an extra chair, desk, and refrigerator. It was situated at garden-level with no rooms above. Tall doors opened out to a private, hedge-enclosed garden complete with table and chairs. We used this area to hang out, discreetly dry bathing suits and laundry (ha), eat, and relax in the evenings.
The public spaces at the Parador were so nice. A large lounge at the front of the building featured comfy chairs and sofas. This was a great spot to hang out, get a tad better wifi signal than the room, talk to family, and catch up on news.
One of the highlights of our stay was visiting the new pool. Glistening in the hot, late-summer sun, it was a fantastic place to take a dip. The entrance to the pool feels luxurious, descending down a wide staircase to the grassy garden below.
During the day, we walked down to the pathway that extends along the river front.
One evening, we strolled along the river then walked up and over the bridge into Portugal, and wandered around the outside of the walls at Valença.
We had breakfast at the Parador, which is always a treat. Late one afternoon, we also had a few tapas in the restaurant, which were delicious: a single scallop (!) artfully arranged on a shell, three small burgers and fries, really cutely presented (and good as well), and some calamari. It was a tasty treat and fairly reasonable as Parador fare goes.
Not far away from Tui is the Castro de Santa Tegra in A Guarda. Built high on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Miño and Atlantic, this ancient Celtic archeological site was home to a sizable population about two thousand years ago. The remains of the circular stone buildings dot the hillside, as well as old chapels, stables, etc. There are a couple of re-created buildings complete with thatched roofs. The views are incredible. It costs (at the time of our visit) a nominal EUR 2 to drive up the hillside to visit. Well worth it!
I would definitely return to Tui, as we found it a great place to relax and read, browse, and soak in the fabulous surroundings.
