Albergue La Almazara near Villafranca

[Peregrinopaul]

I'm curious to know if anyone has stayed at this albergue which is about 5km south of Villafranca.
I was hoping to stay there on two of my caminos in 2016 and again in 2017, but on both occasions found it abandoned, and the courtyard overgrown. It was a picturesque compound, converted from an old olive press.
What did surprise me was that the place was connected to the N630 by a newly constructed bitumen road, including a new bridge over the railway. Beyond the albergue, it was a dirt track which connected to the camino.
There's a listing now on BdotC, but it says it is not taking reservations at the moment.

 

[peregrina2000]

This is another one of those albergues turísticos in Extremadura that has been open and closed repeatedly, kind of like Fuente de Cantos, the Embalse, and Torremejía, and there are probably others. I have been there twice, but never stayed there, and it was years ago.

The first time I was there, there was a handful of peregrinos sitting outside relaxing in lawn chairs and I got a short tour of the olive oil press. The second time I was there, the restaurant had been opened - if I remember correctly, a local (Villafranca) restaurant had taken it over and there were linen tablecloths, fancy wine glasses, a few notches above pilgrim fare.

I have tried calling the land line listed on the website. Busy, but I’ll keep trying. But the website‘s reservation system has all the days crossed out indicating that they are not taking reservations either.

Gronze shows no listing, which is pretty conclusive, I think.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Gronze shows no listing, which is pretty conclusive, I think.

The most recent review on BdotC is from Oct 2023, and there are none older than 2022. All the reviews are complementary (if that means anything) and one or two mention the restaurant on-site.
It seems such an interesting place to stay, among the olive groves.
I'm vaguely considering another VdlP in the summer, hence my interest.
I know that I had some interesting photos of the deserted place, but with phone upgrades along the years they seem to have disappeared into the cyber black hole. Very annoying!

Edit: the reviews go back to 2021

 

[limescene]

A fellow pilgrim was staying there in the end of September 2023. He called the day ahead when in Calzadilla de los Barros. But by then, it was definitely still listed on gronze, so I wouldn’t count on staying there, at least at the moment. Such a shame as it makes for a perfect stop when preferring 30 km stages rather than 40 or 20…

 

[geraldkelly]

It closed at then end of 2023. As far as I know it won't be reopening.

I believe it's like Embalse de Alcantara in that it's publicly owned and they lease it out to someone to run it as commercial venture but because of its location it has to rely mostly on pilgrims for business and it just isn't enough.

It's a pity, it's a really nice albergue, but its location so soon after Zafra where almost everybody stops meant that they just didn't get the business.

the Free Guide to the Vía de la Plata - La Almazara (turnoff) - Private (28, 15€ with breakfast) Albergue Turístico La Almazara, on the right branch of the Camino before Villafranca. Run by an ex-pilgrim and situated in open countryside in a beautifu

the Free Guide to the Vía de la Plata - La Almazara (turnoff) - Private (28, 15€ with breakfast) Albergue Turístico La Almazara, on the right branch of the Camino before Villafranca. Run by an ex-pilgrim and situated in open countryside in a beautifully restored olive factory. Café / restaurant...

www.viadelaplataguide.net