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Valladolid Spain. City of Valladolid, Spain: description and photos of attractions. things to do in Valladolid

Valladolid is one of the most ancient and fascinating places in Spain. Long ago, this city was the capital of the country, and even today you can find the remains of mighty fortresses and towers. Today, however, Valladolid has become a fairly serious industrial city, and it will charm you not only with its historical part, but also with its modern architecture. If you want to spend an unforgettable weekend in one of the most interesting places of the Iberian Peninsula, feel free to go to a tour operator with a clear requirement: Valladolid (Spain). You will hear only positive reviews about this city, and if you dare to go there on vacation, make sure of this pleasant fact. So, what to see in Valladolid? Read more about this.

Is Valladolid a tourist center?

On the other hand, you may be confused by the fact that few people actually know about Valladolid. The city does not have the same reputation as a tourist destination like Madrid or Barcelona and is rarely mentioned in the news. For example, recently the Spanish Cup “Valladolid” - “Tenerife”, that is, one of the matches of the country’s football cup, has attracted attention to it, where a game took place on one of the Canary Islands between the local team and representatives of our ancient residence of the kings. The Valladolid team, by the way, lost.

In addition, you can learn a lot about the city if you are interested in the history of the sunny Iberian Peninsula. So, it was here that the residence of the kings of Castile was located, the heart for four centuries from the thirteenth century to the seventeenth. Accordingly, the remnants of great culture and history simply fill the streets of Valladolid, leaving indifferent more than one inquisitive tourist in the world. Even despite the lack of a halo of a tourist Mecca, this place attracts the attention of many travelers. If you don’t know where to go, then this place will be a very good choice, and you can brag to your friends for a long time that you’ve been to this city.

Where to stay?

So, vacation. You have arrived at the final destination of the ticket indicating: Valladolid (Spain). The sights of the city, however, will not be your first point of travel; first you should check into one of the many hotels. The latter, by the way, are for every taste and thickness of wallet: from expensive five-star establishments that replicate the atmosphere of the enchanting Spanish Middle Ages, to small and cozy rooms where anyone who does not have such large finances can stay.

Valladolid (Spain): description

When you have figured out where to stay, you should start exploring the city directly. For those who like a more leisurely tourist holiday, there is a whole series of excursions during which they will tell you and show you everything about the sights of Valladolid, but you need to pay for this. This often forces thrifty tourists to refuse excursions, so we will try to help you explore the city by telling you basic information about it. In addition, independent discoveries are always much more pleasant and better remembered than what some guide will tell you.

City center

The center of Valladolid is located along Santiago Street, and walking along it will lead you to Plaza Mayor. Most of the administrative and city buildings are located here - the city hall, opposite it is the Val market. The square itself is surrounded by many buildings with beautiful arches, and this place can be called the starting point for any tourist. Often the first day of a trip is completely spent exploring the architecture of the city center, buying souvenirs and exploring the shopping arcades. Nearby, right at your fingertips, are the most cozy cafes where you can take a break from the bustle of the city for a while.

and palaces

If you have dealt with the city center, you can move on. One of the main and most important attractions of Valladolid can be considered the Cathedral. This cultural and religious value began to be built back in 1582, more than four hundred years ago, and has not been fully completed to this day. Having entered this huge building, you can walk inside several exhibition halls of the city museum, located right in the cathedral, and examine, for example, many valuable relics, which include a large stone altar. It has not only religious value, but also cultural value - made in the Baroque style, this altar attracts the attention of many professional art historians, not to mention tourists. Near the cathedral is the church of Santa Maria la Antigua, as well as the old Pimentel Palace, the former residence of the kings and today the seat of government.

National Sculpture Museum

The imagination of tens of thousands of tourists cannot help but be captured by the pinnacle of architectural creativity - the National Sculpture Museum. The building itself is already a masterpiece: unimaginable frescoes, many hand-decorated walls and ceilings - along with the high severity of the walls, more reminiscent of a fortress than a museum building. Inside there are no less impressive collections of wooden sculptures, as well as frequently changing exhibitions, which will be interesting to see for any visitor to Valladolid.

Universities and schools

Another notable building worth seeing is the Universidad. Valladolid (Spain), photos of the sights of which are presented in the article, is also famous for such monuments as the National Sculpture Museum and the Cathedral, so don’t miss the opportunity to see everything with your own eyes. A guide leads tourists along the same route, telling them in detail about all the sights. So, the Universidad, as you can understand even without knowing the Spanish language at all, is an ancient university building. It was opened more than five hundred years ago, and like any ancient monumental buildings, it attracts the attention of travelers. The façade of the building is decorated with symbols of science, thereby giving it an extraordinary medieval poetry. Directly opposite the university is the Santa Cruz School, like all the ancient buildings in the city - decorated with unique stone carvings.

Legacy of Castile

It is in Valladolid that a tourist can experience the depth and uniqueness of the culture of Castile, the medieval severity of fortresses and Catholic cathedrals, and see the unique and exciting stone patterns on most ancient buildings that excite the imagination of any traveler. The Valladolid residents themselves are very sensitive to their cultural heritage, preserving some city corners since the early Middle Ages. Small, narrow streets seem to transport us into the imagination, and the breathtaking Baroque buildings for people accustomed to the gray landscapes of panel blocks will become some kind of revelation from above. Excursions in the city are conducted mainly along the same route as the order in which we described the sights of the city. And besides this, there is a lot to see here; the historical center of the city is literally dotted with large medieval mansions. There are dozens of magnificent churches and huge castles here.

Valladolid (Spain) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Valladolid with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Valladolid (Spain)

Valladolid is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon. It is one of the country's largest cultural and economic centers, the capital of an outstanding wine-growing and gastronomic region. Valladolid is a university city that served as the residence of the kings of Castile and Spain from the 13th to the 17th centuries. The historical center includes ancient sacred buildings, historical buildings and palaces.

Geography and climate

Valladolid is located on the Pisuerga River at its confluence with the Esgueva River in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is located on the Northern Plateau, which is a plain with small hills. The climate is continental Mediterranean. Summers here are hot and dry, and winters are quite mild with rare frosts. A little more than 400 mm of precipitation falls per year.

Practical information

  1. Population - 299.7 thousand people.
  2. Area - 197.91 square kilometers.
  3. Language - Spanish.
  4. Currency - euro.
  5. Visa - Schengen.
  6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
  7. The Tourist Information Center is located at Pabellón de Cristal, Calle Acera de Recoletos.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is April-June and September-October.

Story

The first mention of Valladolid dates back to 1074, when King Alfonso VI of León commissioned the settlement of the Pisuerga River valley. There are two versions of the founding of the city. The first - Valladolid was founded by the Romans, the second - the Arabs, who gave it the name "city of Valida".

At the beginning of the 13th century, the king of Castile moved his court here. In 1346, Valladolid received the right to found its own university. In 1461, a strong fire practically destroyed the city. After him, Valladolid was rebuilt. In 1506, the famous navigator Christopher Columbus died here.

In 1469, the marriage of the Princess of Castile and the Prince of Aragon took place here, which led to the unification of Spain. In 1520, during the uprising of the Castilian cities, Valladolid became the northern capital of the rebellion. In 1521, the rebels were defeated. The city remained the capital of Spain until 1561, when it suffered from another major fire.

The city suffered greatly during the wars with France. Many sights and architectural monuments were damaged or lost.

How to get there

The airport is located 10 km from the city. The best way to get to Valladolid is to first fly to Madrid, where there are regular trains. The high-speed train from Madrid to Valladolid covers the distance between the cities in 1 hour. There are also regular bus and train connections to other major cities.

Shopping and purchases

In Valladolid you can buy the best wine in Spain and some typical sweets. In the city center there are several shopping centers and a wide variety of shops.


Food and drink

The region is famous for its pork and lamb dishes. There are restaurants that serve exclusively lamb dishes. Typical dishes: garlic soup, roast lamb, chorizo ​​tortilla, portillo. Asparagus, potatoes and other vegetables are often served as a side dish.

Attractions

The main square is the very center of Valladolid, located in the old town and headed by the statue of Count Pedro Ansurez. In the Middle Ages, a market and city gates were located in its place. A severe fire in 1561 significantly damaged the square and surrounding buildings. The new square was built under Philip II. It was the first geometrically correct square in Spain, to which ten streets and alleys led. The main square became a model for squares in other cities in the country and South America. It hosts numerous seasonal events and Christmas markets.


The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora is a 16th-century Baroque church. The cathedral was built on the site where construction of an older Gothic church began. The tower, damaged by an earthquake in 1755, collapsed in 1841. A new tower was built on the opposite side of the cathedral.


Campo Grande Park is a green space right in the center of Valladolid. It was founded at the end of the 18th century and covers an area of ​​more than 100 thousand square meters. A great place for walking and relaxing from the bustle of the city. Peacocks walk in the park, there is a fountain and a pond.

Church of St. Paul's is the only building that remains from the old Dominican monastery, founded in 1270. The existing church was built between 1445 and 1468, later expanded and restored. Church of St. Paul's is one of the most emblematic sacral buildings of Valladolid with a beautiful Renaissance façade and a real stone altar. The interior of the church is made in the late Gothic style.


Church of St. Maria "Antigua"

Church of St. Mary "Antigua" is one of the oldest buildings in Valladolid, founded in the 11th century on the foundations of Roman buildings. The oldest parts of the church (the tower and arcade on the north side) date from the 12th century and are Romanesque. The rest of the temple was rebuilt in the 14th century at the initiative of Alfonso XI, King of Castile, in the Gothic style. The building has three aisles and three polygonal apses. Declared a national monument of Spain.


Church and Convent of San Benito "El Real"

San Benito "El Real" is a church and monastery built on the site of an old fortress. Fragments of medieval walls are still visible here. The monastery was built on the initiative of John I as a gift to the Benedictine Order. The Church of San Benito has a prominent monumental façade with two octagonal columns. After church confiscation, the monastery building was used as military barracks until 1965. Currently, part of it is used as a museum of modern art.


The Cavalry Academy is a beautiful 19th century building in the style of noble Renaissance palaces. Various materials were used in its construction, such as granite and golden sandstone from Salamanca, resulting in beautiful polychrome. Now there is a museum of paintings and sculptures here.


Seminary of St. Gregorio is a historical building from the 15th century with a beautiful facade decorated with decorative and sculptural elements. Now the building houses the National Sculpture Museum.


Herreriano Museum

The Herreriano Museum is a museum of contemporary Spanish art. Works by Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Antoni Tapi, Esteban Vicente, Eduardo Chillida, Luis Gordillo, Manolo Valdez and Ferranta are on display here. Free admission.

Valladolid city square, Spain (Photo© santiago lopez-pastor / www.flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC 2.0)

Valladolid is located in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula and is interesting for its cultural and historical monuments, numerous museums and great past. Many Spanish kings were born and grew up here, Christopher Columbus died and the most famous Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, lived here, who graduated from Don Quixote in Valladolid.

The main attractions of Valladolid

Most of the interesting historical sites are located in the city center, near the confluence of two main rivers - Esgueva and Pisuerga.


What to do in the city inValladolid?


RestaurantsValladolid: where is the best place to taste Castilian delicacies

The gastronomic tastes of Valladolid are mainly associated with Castilian cuisine. Meat dishes occupy a privileged place. The most typical lunch is roast lamb, seasoned with water and salt and cooked in a wood-burning oven. This is followed by dishes of pig, partridge, rabbit and quail, which are stewed or pickled. The cheese produced in the city is made from sheep's milk and has a strong flavor. Castilian bread is very popular.

  1. El Caballo de Troya. A tavern with a lovely courtyard serving regional cuisine. The tourist must try the “ration” appetizer and assorted tasting dishes, as well as drink a glass of Spanish wine. Average check: 35 euros.
  2. Vinotinto. The restaurant specializes in meat dishes and is very popular among locals. Iberica jamon is especially prized, as it is cut very thin and literally melts in your mouth. Average bill: 27 euros.
  3. La Parilla de San Lorenzo. Located in a former monastery, it specializes in Castilian dishes - stews, steaks, bean side dishes. Average check: 30 euros.

Valladolid city square, Spain (Photo at top© santiago lopez-pastor / www.flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Defeated and wingless
Enemies of the Spanish power -
Enemy forces are scattered,
But the glory shines forever,
which we acquired
Crowning purple with laurel.
Let the bronze tablets
They will tell the world about this!

Don Pedro Calderon de la Barca "Defense of Terheyden"
Fragment of the 3rd act of the play “The Siege of Breda”

Why go

How, aren't you interested in visiting the city that was the capital of Spain before Madrid? Isn’t it interesting to see with your own eyes the palace where the wedding of the Catholic kings Isabella and Ferdinand took place? Or the palace where King Philip II was born, which is famous for
1. moved the capital from Valladolid to Madrid,
2. built the palace-monastery of Escorial and the palace complex in Aranjuez,
3. described in the book “The Legend of Till Eulenspiegel”, and in Schiller’s play “Don Carlos”,
4. The Philippines were named in his honor in 1543,
5. won the Battle of Lepanto and sent the Invincible Armada to destruction.


Isn't it interesting to see a cathedral that, if completed, would be no less than St. Peter's? The house where Cervantes finished Don Quixote? The house where Columbus died? Not at all interesting? Well then, I don’t know what else to lure you there, then sit in Madrid But it’s worth going to Valladolid. In addition, Valladolid, as a large city and transport hub, is a convenient base for forays into the northern part of Spain. And also, since there are much fewer tourists here than in Madrid, and the shops are basically the same, shopping is better here (it seemed to me).

How to get there

We traveled by train from Madrid's Chamartin station. Travel time is 2 hours 40 minutes. The ticket costs 25.40 euros per person, round trip. From the station to the Old Town it takes about 7 minutes on foot - you can see it, you just need to cross Columbus Square with the monument to him in the center

and walk along the park (Campo Grande) along Acera de Recoletos.

The tourist office is not where it is indicated in the guidebook (Calle Santiago, 19), but on this very Acera de Recoletos - at the end, on the left, there is such a glass pavilion. There is another one - a booth on Plaza Mayor. There are 2 more yellow machines with an unknown purpose: one is across the road from the former royal palace, the second is on Plaza Mayor, but they did not work, so they should not be taken into account. In addition, at the stop in front of the station and at the booth next to the Plaza Mayor there are large maps of the city indicating attractions.

Story

It is well known that the older the city, the more copies historians break about the date of its foundation and the history of the name. Valladolid was no exception. Some say that the Romans founded the city and gave it a name consisting of two words: Latin vallis - “valley” and Celtic tolitum - “place of confluence of waters”. (The Royal Palace of Valladolid was decorated with Roman mosaics from the surviving villas of the Roman patricians until they were moved to the archaeological museum). Others say that the Roman settlement, although it existed, did not become a real city, and the real city was founded by the Arabs, who gave it the name “belad walid”, translated meaning “City of Walid” (ruler). Valladolid was one of the first cities captured from the Moors back in the 10th century, and already in the 11th century, the king of Leon (then Spain was several kingdoms) Alfonso VI instructs Count Pedro Ansures to populate the territory near the Pisuerga River, which the first lord of Valladolid does - and successfully. In the city, the churches of Santa María la Antigua and Colegiata de Santa María, palaces and a hospital (not preserved) were built under him.

In 1208, King Alfonso VIII made Valladolid a court city. Subsequent kings also welcomed him and granted trade privileges, as a result of which the city grew rich, acquired significance and grew before our eyes - at the beginning of the 14th century, Queen Regent of Castile Maria de Molina settled here for 30 years, rebuilding the Alcazar (another Arab building) into a palace. Already in 1346, Pope Clement VI granted Valladolid the right to create a University. In 1420, the future Grand Inquisitor Torquemada was born in Valladolid, about whom centuries later they would say “He was cruel as the lord of hell, Grand Inquisitor Torquemada!” After the fire of 1461, the city was badly damaged, but in the same year the first fire department in Spain was created there, formed from 30 Moors, for which they were given the right to create a sort of Moorish town on the territory of the Christian city.

On October 19, 1469, the fateful marriage for the country of Princess Isabella of Castile and Prince Ferdinand of Aragon took place in the Vivaria Palace, which essentially became the unification of Spain. They say that the marriage was secret, since the king of Castile did not give his permission to it (there is also information according to which the marriage was concluded with the participation of Torquemada, who was then the confessor of the princess). The groom's retinue arrived in Castile disguised as merchants. In addition, since the bride and groom were close relatives (cousins), permission from the pope was required. The necessary document was received retroactively, and historians still doubt whether it was genuine.

creepy anti-resistance picture
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/5/54/Iberiankings.jpg

After the completion of the Reconquista in 1492 (About the history of the Reconquista http://covadonga.narod.ru), the Catholic kings (as Isabella and Ferdinand began to be called) made Valladolid the capital of Spain.

During the uprising of the communeros in 1520 (in Spanish it sounds beautiful - la Guerra de las Comunidades de Castilla), the city joined (note that not immediately) the flagship of the uprising - Toledo and the most influential cities of the country Segovia, Salamanca, Avila and Guadalajara, and then turned into the capital of the rebellion in the north of the country. At the Battle of Villalar (April 23, 1521), the forces of the Comuneros, led by Juan Padilla, were defeated, he and other leaders of the Junta were captured and executed.

After this, Valladolid, oddly enough, was not deprived of the honorary title of capital. The city remained the capital until 1561, when it was again damaged by fire - almost the entire central part was destroyed. King Philip II (born in Valladolid, in the Pimentel Palace, in 1527) first builds a new Plaza Mayor in the city center, which became the model for all squares of the time (including Madrid) for a good hundred years to come, and then strikes the city – moves the capital to Madrid. For other great deeds of the king, see the section “Why go” at the beginning of the story. Valladolid again became a royal residence for a short period from 1601 to 1606, during this period of time it was here that Anne of Austria, the one from The Three Musketeers, was born.

During the infamous War of the Spanish Succession, Valladolid took the side of Philip V. And then the city becomes not very noticeable and does not play a significant role in the history of Europe. I always feel a little sorry for former capitals - a city stands where life was once in full swing, and it’s sad about its former greatness...

Walking through Columbus Square, past the Campo Grande park on the left, we came out to Plaza Zorilla, where we saw a magnificent fountain (precisely magnificent - its jets are directed in an unusual, voluminous manner) and the building of the Cavalry Academy (Academia de Caballeria),

more like a palace, with coats of arms and a dashing equestrian sculptural group at the entrance. But attention is drawn more to the installations scattered here and there: a woman’s head in a hat,

female head with an enchanting hairstyle,

and across the road - a variation on the theme of Velazquez's "Las Menin" - five female figures in characteristic full skirts. The sculptural composition is called Las meninas.

Then I advise you to go straight along Calle Santiago, to the stern-looking church of the same name on the left side of the street, which next to the shop windows (this is the central shopping street of the city) looks somewhat lonely.

Inside, it is worth looking at the Adoration of the Magi (1537) by Berruguete.

If you wish, on the next street on the right you can visit

Cervantes House (Museo casa de Cervantes)

In general, there is an amazing connection between Alcala de Henares and Valladolid: Cervantes was born in Alcala, lived in Valladolid for several years and published his most famous book. In Alcala, Christopher Columbus was first received by the Catholic kings Isabella and Ferdinand; he died in Valladolid. Colleges were opened in both Alcala and Valladolid with money from the Mendoza family...

College of the Holy Cross (Colegio de Santa Cruz)

From the Columbus House Museum to the college you should go along Calle Colon, then along Calle Cardenal Mendoza. Construction of the beautiful Renaissance building began in 1486, designed by Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia, and was completed in 1491. It is believed to be the earliest building of the Spanish Renaissance. The college was founded and financed by Cardinal Mendoza (for the history and importance of this family in Spain, see Guadalajara). The college was the largest cultural center of the Middle Ages and had a rich library. To this day, the library’s collection has preserved 520 manuscripts, 355 incunabula (first printed books) and 13 thousand different editions of the 16th-18th centuries.

The college building is believed to be the earliest existing Spanish Renaissance building. It is noticeable that the facade is slightly asymmetrical - perhaps there was another doorway to the right of the entrance? Architectural experts note, however, that the same architectural technique was used by Vázquez in the construction of the palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli in the town of Collogudo near Madrid (the dukes were one of the branches of the Mendoza clan, therefore, it can be considered that Vázquez was the architect of the “family” ).

The portal above the entrance is made in the Plateresque style, but it is much simpler than the façade of the Church of San Pablo. The college courtyard is surrounded by a three-story arched gallery decorated with stone carvings, but they are simpler than the carvings in the courtyard of the Palace of the Dukes of Mendoza in Guadalajara. Cannonballs are stacked in a heap in the center of the courtyard, and the names of the most outstanding graduates are immortalized on the walls. A staircase leads somewhere upstairs, where the walls are decorated with yellow and blue painted tiles. The college also has a nice kindergarten.

University

Already in 1346, Pope Clement VI granted Valladolid the right to create the University, but it was founded and built somewhat later - in the 15th-16th centuries. Plaza Universidad faces a stunningly beautiful Baroque façade (1715), designed by Antonio Tomé and his sons Diego and Narciso (author of the famous transparent window in the Toledo Cathedral).

I have already written that the presence of a famous university in a town leaves an indelible imprint on the city itself, its architecture, buildings, and its way of life. Somehow you immediately understand: students live here. Lots of students. These are Leuven in Belgium, Oxford and Cambridge in England, Bologna and Perugia in Italy, Heidelberg in Germany, Friborg and Neuchâtel in Switzerland, Lund in Sweden, Harvard in the USA (despite the fact that it is much newer than all of the above), Salamanca and Alcala de Henares in the same Spain.

So in Valladolid, despite the presence of an ancient university, nothing like this is felt: probably the fact that the city was the capital for a long time, and only then a city where there is a university, leaves its mark. Here everything is subordinated to palaces, monasteries and temples, which belonged to noble and influential families, i.e. former greatness, and there were few young cheerful faces on the streets...

Cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción)

The cathedral, if you approach it not from the facade, very much resembles Siena - with the markings of the walls that should have been built. If on the sides everything is still more or less decent, then behind the remains of the once large-scale construction are overgrown with grass, moss and even low bushes. The king, and especially the diocese, simply did not have enough money to complete the majestic plan - just like the Sienese. All the more reason to respect the strong businessmen of the Florentines - they built the Duomo, and managed to fight with Pisa, Arezzo and the same Siena. On the university side, near the cathedral there is a monument to Cervantes.

The foundation stone of the cathedral took place, according to some historians, in 1527 by master Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, but construction quickly stopped due to lack of funds. The construction of the temple was continued only in 1580 by order of King Philip II and the court architect, one of the architects of Escorial, Juan de Herrera, was appointed responsible. The features of Herrera’s gloomy and deliberately simplified style, named “herreriano” in his honor, are embodied in the Escorial and in the cathedral in all its glory.

There were not enough funds for Philip II, the local nobleman Diego de Praves, and his descendants - the main sponsors of the construction - and the cathedral was never completed. A few decades later, the construction baton was taken over by the master from Salamanca, Alberto Churriguera, but he was not destined to finish the cathedral. In 1841, echoes of the terrible earthquake that destroyed Lisbon reached Valladolid, and the cathedral tower collapsed, but was rebuilt and crowned with a statue of Christ. The cathedral has been brought into a more or less decent appearance today, and now the luxurious ornamentation of the façade, characteristic of the Churriguera brothers, contrasts with the gloomy interior, only the bright decoration of the altar by Juan de Juni (1562) stands out against the backdrop of strict square columns. In the balustrade are statues of Saints Ambrosio, Augustine, Gregorio and Jeronimo. Inside, it is also worth looking at the design of the chapels (4 on each side of the cathedral) and the tomb of Count Ansures, dating back to the 16th century. The cathedral now houses a music archive.

Church of Santa Maria la Antigua

This Gothic (and partly neo-Gothic) church near the cathedral attracts attention with its unusualness: it is atypical for Valladolid with its pyramidal tower, its spiers, and all its “castle-likeness”. Its history begins in the distant 12th century, since then the Romanesque bell tower and portico have been preserved (the church in the Gothic style was built in the 14th century). But in the basements of the church, the remains of the Roman baths are still preserved, from the stones of which Count Ansures, the founder of the city, built the very first church of the city here in 1095. Nothing has survived from that church. In narrow architectural circles, the church is widely known for its slender appearance and beautiful proportions, as well as the stunning design of the windows - they give the church a certain fabulousness.

The building has undergone several restorations, but this does not spoil it - on the contrary, the masonry stones still breathe antiquity. The interior decoration of the church dates back to the 16th century. and executed by Juan de Juni. For several years now, the church has been undergoing restoration (the largest was carried out from 1900 to 1952), during which all the decorations were moved to the cathedral.

Penitential Church of Our Lady of Anxiety (Iglesia Penitencial de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias)

The second church, which can be seen from the cathedral, is much less openwork than Santa Maria la Antigua, and less ancient - it dates back to the 16th century. It was erected with funds from another influential city brotherhood - the Penitent Brotherhood of Anxiety - on the site of an older oratory belonging to the same brotherhood. Martín Sánchez de Aranzamendi and his wife Luisa de Rivera allocated a mind-boggling sum for the construction at that time, bequeathing them to be buried in the church in a simple tomb - and construction began to boil. The architect Juan de Nates designed the facade, and the decoration was designed by the best court craftsmen (then the court briefly moved again to Valladolid). Juan de Juni also did not stand aside, creating the Virgin Mary, a symbol of the church and one of his most famous works. The chapels were decorated by mason Francisco Pérez and sculptors Gregorio Díez de Mata and Gregorio Fernández, artist Manuel Petti and gilder Santiago Montes. The only pity is that the church was closed for some reason, but from the outside it looks quite simple.

Nearby are the Calderon Theater, the Archbishop's Palace and the Vera Cruz Church, which I described earlier, also built with funds from the brotherhood.

Church of Santissimo Salvador (Iglesia de El Santissimo Salvador)

According to urban legend, it was here that the patron saint of the city, Saint Pedro, was baptized in 1390 (a monument to him stands a little to the left and behind the church). The authentic brick tower stands on a much older foundation (XVII century), the asymmetrical facade, as if cut off on one side, dates back to 1550. All the most interesting things, as usual, are inside: the chapels of the church are arranged in a sort of fan, in which all architectural styles are represented Castile between the end of the 15th and 18th centuries, especially the so-called Flemish chapel (1492) with a triptych dated 1502 and the Rococo altar (1756).

A little to the left is a church dedicated to Our Lady (judging by the sculpture above the entrance).

From here we dived into some kind of passage, it seems, occupying a couple of blocks, emerging at Fuente Dorada Square.

Returning to Plaza Zorrilla, we discovered several interesting monuments on the big map of the city, which we had time to visit. Why did we move from the square along Calle Maria de Molina past the Lope de Vega Theater

towards the Santa Ana Monastery (Monasterio de Santa Ana, where there are several paintings by Goya), in the vicinity of which there are two very funny statues and one sculptural composition: either a policeman or a fireman on duty, with a hose in his hand;

Sad guy under an umbrella and with a heavy suitcase in his hand

and three ladies called Las-Sirenas.

And, returning to the station, we looked in the rapidly approaching twilight at the church of San Juan de Letrán with a baroque façade (1737), located to the left of the station along Paseo de Filipinos. Behind the church is the Monasterio de los Padres Filipinos (1760), to which Ventura Rodriguez himself put his talented hand...

“The Spaniards throughout their history have acutely felt their difference from Europe as an inferiority complex. ...I was looking out of the window of the tail car when on the way between Valladolid and Burgos a stop flashed by - a brick booth with a sign “Torquemada”. Let us suppose that those times are very far away, and the name of the Grand Inquisitor can hardly be read from the name of the railway station, but in other respects is it really worth pitying Spain with its mantilla and Inesilla, which is fading into oblivion? Peter Weil "Genius of the place"

Where to eat, where to live, how to get there, the choice of individual city guides and much more.

This city has a rich history. The residence of the Castilian and Spanish monarchs, the trendsetter of architectural fashion, the industrial center of Castile - Valladolid has changed many masks and names, but each of them still attracts tourists from all over the world.

In the cathedrals of Valladolid, the traditions of Gothic architecture intertwined with Moorish ornaments and received the name Isabella Gothic in honor of the famous Queen of Castile and Leon. Many cities have taken their example from its square, created in the 16th century, so don’t be surprised if you find a piece of Spain in a distant South American city. Only the unrest of the 19th century could take away from Vadjadolid both the austere grandeur of its architecture and the habit of a leisurely life. But even since this ancient city lost its title of capital and was dressed in glass and concrete, its proud appearance still reminds of its glorious past.

Flights to Valladolid

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How to get to Valladolid

By plane

The closest airport to Valladolid is eight kilometers away, but it does not accept direct flights from Russia. On the way to Valladolid, planes usually land in Berlin and Palma Mallorca (Air Berlin together with Iberia), in London and Palma Mallorca (British Airways), in Madrid and Palma Mallorca (Iberia).

It is cheaper to fly to Barcelona or Madrid, and from there by train to Valladolid.

By train

The high-speed ALVIA train travels from Madrid to Valladolid in about an hour (ticket costs 37 €), a slower train in three hours (24.10 €), from Toledo in three and a half hours, from Valencia in about four hours. The train takes the longest from Barcelona: the journey takes at least six and a half hours. It is convenient to choose tickets in advance on the Renfe website.

By bus

Buses from the capital of Spain to Valladolid depart daily almost every hour. The journey takes about three hours, and a one-way ticket costs approximately 19 €. They leave from Barcelona to Valladolid less frequently: the journey will take about six hours, and the ticket will cost at least 48 €. You can buy it on the Alsa bus company website.

Hotels in Valladolid

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Accommodation in Valladolid is not the cheapest in all of Spain, but there are plenty of hotels with several stars for a reasonable price.

Hostal Ramón y Cajal offers a modest but cozy double room with shared bathroom for 27 € per night. It is located in the historical quarter of Valladolid, 600 meters from the Cathedral.

A single room with all amenities in the three-star Hotel Topacio will cost 36 €. It is located in the San Cristobal business park, a ten-minute walk from the center of Valladolid.

A single room “Comfort” in Silken Juan de Austria, oddly enough, will cost a little more: 42 €. The road to Valladolid station takes 15 minutes, and to the Pisuerga River it takes about five minutes.

Shopping in Valladolid

Prices in shops in Valladolid vary greatly. For example, a men's jacket in the Yaker store on Calle Santiago can cost at least 150 €, and a jacket - all 200. But if you get to Calle Angustias, then in the Moda S SARA store you can easily find women's jackets for 29 € and business suits for 200-300 €.

The Nike Outlet, which has nothing in common with the sportswear brand, is located on Calle Gondomar. Here you can find inexpensive and high-quality shoes. For example, women's Wonders shoes cost 60 €, and Clark's sandals cost 35 €.

Good souvenirs - from boxes with Moorish patterns (25 €) to colorful jewelry (3.50 €) - can be found in the Sandalo store on Calle Recondo.

For those with a sweet tooth, head straight to Cubero Confeterias Pastelerias on Calle Pasión, the main confectionery shop in Valladolid. Here they prepare truffles, lollipops, almond dragees, pies, and donuts for all important holidays for the townspeople. At the same time, you can admire the sugar sculptures in the museum at the confectionery shop.

But in fact, all of Valladolid's commerce takes place in its main market, the Mercado del Val. For about a hundred years, in his building on Plaza del Val they have been selling everything from flowers to piglets, arguing with sellers over prices and sharing the latest news.

Vineyards of Valladolid

When King Alfonso the Brave wanted to glorify Valladolid, he could not invent anything better than an excellent variety of wine. And he threw out a cry among the local peasants. Monks from several orders responded to him and began to cultivate the land. Since then, the tiny village of Rueda near Valladolid has become famous as a vineyard with the best conditions for preparing white Verdejo wine (at night the temperature in the wine cellars reaches 10-15 ° C). The wineries of Belondrade (the taste of its wine is most influenced by sand and clay soil) and Cuatro Rayas (its vineyards are located at an altitude of 700-850 meters above sea level) offer wine tasting. You can also appreciate the products of Bodegas Garcigrande Winery, founded on the site of a 14th-century winery.