Parador Square

The Plaza del Parador is one of the most distinctive spaces in Torre de Juan Abad. Its name preserves the memory of the old inn or tavern, a stopping place for travelers, muleteers, and their pack animals passing through the town. Today it is a quiet, open square, dominated by the bronze statue of Francisco de Quevedo, a work by Joaquín García Donaire, unveiled in 1977, which commemorates the writer's deep connection to the town.

This place allows us to understand the historical importance of Torre de Juan Abad as a crossroads. The old Royal Road, which linked the Madrid countryside with Andalusia, passed through here, crossing the Sierra Morena mountains near Montizón, Barranco Hondo, and the San Esteban Pass. The route was dotted with wells and watering troughs for horses, including the Pozo del Parador (Parador Well), linked to the old inn that still lends its name to the square.

On one side stands a manor house dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, associated with the well-known Robbery of Don Juan, which occurred on October 13, 1873. The building maintains the appearance of traditional La Mancha architecture, with a whitewashed façade, masonry walls, exposed stonework at the corners, a doorway with a stone-framed balcony, and prominent ironwork over its openings. Visits are free and highly recommended as part of a walking tour that connects Quevedo's literary legacy with the town's former role as a thoroughfare.