Granite Oven

[Xabia Jim]

Ran across a granite oven in a renaissance palace, now a Parador.

It was a single slab stone hearth and the dome was made from granite blocks. The outside included a stone chimney, kind of outside the oven itself but meant to get the smoke out of the kitchen I'm sure. Last shot is the open "hearth" in the kitchen.

Probalby could be considered a commercial oven though!

The place dates to 16th century so you're looking at an oven 500+ years old or so!

[james]

Jim,

Did you stay at Paradors? We stayed in a converted monastary one time. They are all different and unique in their own way.

The oven looks good -- I've never seen a cut stone block oven like that. Very nice.
James

[Xabia Jim]

James, we love the Paradors and try to stay at the old historic ones...Castles, Monastaries, Palaces, Estates.....it's really quite a nice thing they've done in Spain to have preserved and restored so many of these monuments.

We went to the Parador in Santiago which was built in 1499 by Ferdinand and Isabella to house the pilgrims which at the height of the pilgrimages numbered almost 2 million a year!!!! The oldest refuge in the world built across from where St James bones are interned.

Their link is Bienvenidos a Paradores

They have some nice specials to cut down on the pricing....damn exchange rate!

[james]

The Parador on the hills above Toleda is great -- you see the Cathedral lit up at night above the walled city. Very nice. A glass of Cava on a warm summer evening.
James