On this day, August 18th, Spain celebrates the life and enduring legacy of Lorca, nearly a century on from his brutal murder.

Lorca gave Spanish poetry a voice that was both intensely local and universal: his Romancero Gitano fused the rhythms of Andalusian folk song and flamenco with a surrealist's eye for image, while plays like Blood Wedding, Yerma and The House of Bernarda Alba turned rural Spanish life into tragedy.

But Lorca's endurance is also cultural and political. For decades under Franco, his books were banned and his name barely spoken in public. Since Spain's return to democracy, Lorca's story has been reclaimed by popular culture as “Lorcamania”. 

Through TikTok’s thriving Spanish-language book community, young readers have transformed Lorca into something of a viral phenomenon. From videos exploring his literary work to stories about his doomed love affairs and mysterious disappearance, Lorca continues to reach an audience who might otherwise never have encountered his poetry.

This appetite is also driving one of the most anticipated Spanish films in years. La Bola Negra, from the directing duo Los Javis, takes its title from an unfinished play Lorca had only just begun when he was killed — a tale about a young gay man rejected by Granada high society. The film expands Lorca's work into an epic spanning three generations of Spanish men, from the 1930s to the present day, using the poet's own life, relationships and poetry as its emotional spine. It premiered to a captivated reception at Cannes, where it won the festival's Best Director award, and arrives in UK and Irish cinemas on 6 November.

For Brits planning future travels to Granada, a visit to Lorca's home in Huerta de San Vicente provides profound insight into his life. The house will remain open to visitors until 30th September, from 9am to 3pm. 

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.

The announcement was made at FITUR 2026 in Madrid by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, and the President of Paradores, Raquel Sánchez, during an event at the Paradores stand where the hotel’s interior was unveiled for the first time. The Mayor of Ibiza, Rafael Trigueros, also attended the event.

“With this Parador, we reach number 99 in the network and manage to reach all the autonomous communities. The Parador will allow us to recover, revitalize, and rehabilitate a part of Ibiza’s historic centre, and specifically Dalt Vila, but what is more important: it will allow people to discover Ibiza beyond the summer months. An extraordinary Ibiza that connects us with heritage, culture, and history, and that allows us to reduce seasonality and generate employment 365 days a year.” – Raquel Sánchez, President of Paradores.

About Parador de Ibiza

The opening of Parador de Ibiza culminates a long and complex rehabilitation process that began in 2008 and was later interrupted in 2012 by the discovery of important archaeological remains, prompting a rethink of the initial project. The work resumed in 2019 and has been carried out by Turespaña, with the aim of balancing the conservation of historical heritage with sustainable and high-quality tourism.

The establishment is set within one of the island’s most emblematic enclaves: the Castle and Almudaina of Dalt Vila, a 16^th-century fortress situated in the city’s historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and witness to numerous historical events that have shaped Ibiza’s identity for more than two thousand years. Standing at the highest point of the walled city, the Parador’s privileged location offers unique panoramic views over the port and the historic surroundings, making it an exceptional space where heritage and history converge with a premium tourist experience.

Parador de Ibiza is the first Parador de Turismo in the history of the Balearic Islands. With its opening, together with the recent inauguration of Parador de Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara), the Paradores network now comprises 99 establishments, achieving representation in all autonomous communities. The project has received a total investment of €47 million, including investments from Turespaña and Paradores, as well as actions financed with funds from the Recovery Plan.

A Boost for the City’s Historic Centre

The opening of this Parador represents an opportunity for the revitalisation of Ibiza’s historic centre, specifically in Dalt Vila, an area of outstanding heritage value that has experienced a decline in activity in recent years. The hotel’s year-round operation will help restore commercial life and economic activity in the historic neighbourhoods beyond the peak season.

In addition, the establishment will generate quality employment with an estimated workforce of 60 people and will contribute to economic growth and the reduction of seasonal tourism on the island by remaining open throughout the year. In this sense the project returns the castle to the city, after years of being closed to the public, during which Ibiza locals were unable to see its interior. The opening of the Parador will allow both residents and visitors to access this historic site, highlighting its value as a space of immense cultural significance.

Facilities and Services

Spanning five buildings, the Parador has 66 rooms (41 available to guests), a wellness area, an outdoor pool, a solarium, a café, a restaurant, several lounges and terraces. The courtyard, covered with a light, textile-like structure and featuring a small auditorium with views of the port and the Cathedral’s bell tower, expands the hotel’s spaces and will allow for the hosting of evening events in a spectacular setting. The Parador also has underground parking with 40 spaces, which represents an unparalleled feat of civil engineering. It consists of a 37-metre-long tunnel that safeguards the historical wall of Dalt Vila and a communications shaft approximately 30 metres high. This unique solution improves accessibility between the lower and upper parts of the city by using the Parador’s elevators, which until now was accessed via the Soto Fosc pedestrian tunnel.

Enhancing the Value of Archaeological Heritage

Another major milestone of the project has been the ambitious incorporation and musealisation of nine archaeological digs within an interpretation centre integrated into the Parador. Through infographics, signage, and audiovisual projections, the most important remains found during the excavations are revealed. Some of these digs have been restored for the guests’ and wider public’s enjoyment, reinforcing the Paradores’ founding objective to conserve and disseminate historical and artistic heritage. This space makes the Parador a strategic asset for the cultural development and diversification of tourism on the island.

Furthermore, there is a carefully curated artistic programme that includes painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and ceramics, with works by established and contemporary artists. The programme, inspired by the light, sea, and cultural traditions of Ibiza, transforms the historic building into an authentic living gallery in dialogue with its surroundings. The opening of the new Parador de Ibiza, destined to become one the leading hotels and cultural destinations on the island and one of the jewels of the state-owned hotel chain, has generated great excitement among customers and friends of Paradores.

For more information, please visit https://paradores.es/es/parador-de-ibiza

Introductory video to the property can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/parador-de-ibiza

For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

This recognition was granted by UNESCO to the Talayotic as it considered to be a testiment to prehistoric culture and heritage on the island, with an exceptional number of monuments that demonstrate the different stages of prehistoric Menorca. The site is of particular importance given the impressive standard of the preservation of the monuments, thanks to conservation efforts, as well as the number that have been preserved. The constructions are unique to Menorca and include funerary naves, circular houses as well as structures such as taulas and talayots – they are considered by UNESCO to be an exceptional example of Cyclopean architecture and of its evolution over fifteen hundred years. They are an important source of knowledge about the life of the Talayotic people and the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

The distinction will mean that the prehistoric heritage of Menorca is more widely recognised internationally and is expected to help secure new resources for the conservation and scientific research of the monuments and Talayotic culture. This declaration also highlights the great conservational work that is being done in the Balearics to preserve prehistoric sites.

The Balearic Islands have four more UNESCO distinctions: Serra de Tramuntana and the Song of Sybil in Mallorca, Menorca protected by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, and Ibiza for its fortified acropolis (around Dalt Vila) and its marine ecosystem, comprising prairies of oceanic Posidonia (seagrass).

The decision was made that the site should fall under the category of Cultural Landscapes at the 44th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China. The committee, composed of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the Convention, recognised the locations outstanding universal value and beauty of nature, culture, and science in the urban setting.

The site originally made Madrid Europe’s first sustainable capital city back in the 16^th century and today Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, expressed his excitement on the decision to declare it a UNESCO World Heritage site. He said that Madrid welcomed the distinction “with pride and honour” and was mindful of the “enormous responsibility of having a site inscribed in the World Heritage List”. He added that the city would “meet the challenge” of having this title.

The site combines a sense of culture and nature and is situated in the heart of the city for all its citizens to enjoy. Paseo del Prado is the earliest example of an urban promenade and represents the societies of Madrid and Spain. It is linked historically to the park, Buen Retiro, that King Charles III opened in the 18th century, and both were declared as areas for the community to enjoy nature, arts, and sciences within the boundaries of the city.

This gives the Landscape of Light exceptional universal value that has been recognised by UNESCO and distinguishes it as a unique model of singular urban development that was ahead of its time. It has gained prominence beyond Spain’s borders as a rich, diverse, evolving, and dynamic urban cultural landscape that was meticulously designed for recreation and the education of citizens in contact with nature. These reasons led UNESCO to recognise the Landscape of Light as a site that deserves its place on its World Heritage List.

There are 12 establishments that make up the Association of Centenarian Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid (RCM) whose objective is to combine efforts to consolidate the traditional gastronomy of Madrid and create a wider appreciation of the Centuries-old Restaurants and Taverns of Madrid, both within and outside regional and international borders.

The Madrid Tourism Board has created a map to help travellers discover the time-honoured establishments where diners can savour many of Madrid’s traditional dishes such as cocido (Madrid-style stew), soldaditos de pavía (battered and deep-fried cod with red peppers), and callos (tripe), or just enjoy a caña of beer, a glass of vermouth on tap, or wines from the region.

Aside from treasuring the history of gastronomy, the Restaurantes Centenarios have witnessed the evolution of politics, literature and art. Significant chapters in the history of Madrid have been written within their walls such as in Lhardy (1839) where the overthrowing of monarchy and politicians was plotted and ministerial meetings have been held with Miguel Primo de Rivera, former President of the Council of Ministers.

The Spanish Tourist Office has highlighted just a handful of these restaurants and taverns, all of which opened over a hundred years ago, to showcase the essence of what makes them so special: 

La Casa del Abuelo (Vitoria) continues to serve its famous prawns in a variety of ways: with garlic served in a ceramic dish; sizzling with garlic, oil and parsley; griddled to perfection and served with coarse salt; in pastry; or skewers, always accompanied by “El Abuelo” sweet wine or Toro wine. These traditional dishes have been served in the same famous way since 1906.  

Antonio Sanchez Tavern, found in the Lavapiés district, is the oldest tavern in Madrid. Although its exact opening date is a mystery, we do know it was sometime before 1787. The menu is entirely dedicated to traditional Madrilenian cooking.  

Casa Ciriaco was founded in the heart of the Calle Mayor at the end of the 19th century. All manner of famous faces have passed through here including writer Valle-Inclán and cartoonist Antonio Mingote.  

Botín, on Calle Cuchilleros, is considered to be the oldest restaurant in the world. The restaurant has maintained its original atmosphere so much so that the building’s wood-burning oven, which still roasts suckling pigs and lambs in a Castilian style, is the same as that of 1725. 

According to data provided by the RCM, the turnover of the Restaurantes Centenarios has dropped by up to 80%, which is almost entirely down to the lack of visitors during the pandemic. As a result of their traditional and original layouts, many of the restaurants do not have the facility to provide outdoor dining. This means they have not been able to accommodate diners when restrictions have been eased. Furthermore, due to their unique characteristics, they do not have sufficient demand for home delivery.

To help alleviate this situation and to honour their cultural and gastronomic heritage, Madrid has declared these establishments places of significant cultural and touristic interest.