Valladolid

Introduction

Spanish in my first semester lead me to do a case study on one of the cities of Spain, Valladolid. I have to confess I had no idea such a city existed until this project and thus started my fascination to explore the cities of the world. Visiting Spain is definitely on my my bucket list after this fun and interactive case study.

History

During the time of Moorish rule in Spain the Christian kings moved the population of this region north into more easily defended areas, and deliberately created a no-mans' land as a buffer zone against further Moorish conquests. The area was captured from the Moors in the 10th century, and Valladolid was a village until king Alfonso VI of León and Castile donated it to count Pedro Ansúrez in 1072. He built a palace (now lost) for himself and his wife, countess Eylo, the Collegiate of St. Mary and the La Antigua churches. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Valladolid grew rapidly, thanks also to the commercial privileges granted by the kings Alfonso VIII and Alfonso X, as well as to the repopulation of the area after the Reconquista.

In 1469 Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon were married in the city; by the 15th century Valladolid was the residence of the kings of Castile and remained the capital of the Kingdom of Spain until 1561, when the city was destroyed by a fire and Philip II, born here, moved the capital to Madrid, starting a period of decadence for Valladolid. In 1506 Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid in a house which is now a Museum dedicated to him. It was made the capital of the kingdom again between 1601 and 1606 by Philip III.

                          

Plaza Mayor and city hall

Main sights

The capital of Castile y León preserves in its old quarter heritage of aristocratic houses and religious buildings.

Interesting buildings

•        The unfinished Cathedral, commissioned by King Philip II and designed by the architect Juan de Herrera in the 16th century influenced by Michelangelo. The church is unfinished due to financial problems and its nave was not opened until 1668. Years later, in 1730, Master Churriguera finished the work on the main front. The complex is linked to the Diocesan Museum, which holds carvings attributed to Gregorio Fernández and Juni himself, as well as a silver monstrance by Juan de Arce.

•        The large Gothic church of San Benito, built by the Benedictines between 1500 and 1515, with an unusual tower.

•        San Miguel Church, antient church of the Jesuits (now, parish church), built at the end of the 16th century.

•        The façade of the Dominic's Church of San Pablo, characterized by Gothic statues and decoration built around 1500.

•        El Salvador Church, with a façade built around 1550

•        The church of Santiago .

•        The Gothic church of Santa maría la Antigua has an unusual pyramid-shaped Romanesque tower from the 12th century and a 14th century gothic sanctuary, influenced by the Cathedgral of Burgos..

•        The Convent of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas, originally built about 1600.

•        Convento de Santa Ana, a neoclassical building housing various paintings by Francisco de Goya.

San Pablo Church.

·       The heart of the old city is the 16th-century Plaza Mayor, presided over by a statue of Count Ansúrez from 1903. On one side of it stands the City Hall, an eclectic building dating from the beginning of the 20th century, crowned by a clock tower.

·       In the nearby streets is the Palace of Los Pimentel, today the seat of the Provincial Council, is one of the most important, as King Philip II was born here on 21 May 1527.

·       The Royal Palace (where King Philip IV of Spain and Queen Anne of France, mother of Louis XIV were born), the 16th-century Palace of the Marquises of Valverde.

·       The Museum of Valladolid occupies this complex, exhibiting a collection of furniture, sculptures, paintings and ceramic pieces dated from Prehistoric times to the present.

·       The Museum of Contemporary Spanish Art, located in the Patio Herreriano, one of the cloisters of the former Monastery of San Benito, preserves more than 800 paintings and sculptures from the 20th century.

·       The University, whose Baroque façade is decorated with various academic symbols, and the Santa Cruz College, which as well as one of the first examples of the Spanish Renaissance.

·       The Christopher Columbus House-Museum is located in the what was though the residence of the Genoese navigator in the last years of his life.

Local cuisine

Ø Although an inland province, fish is commonly consumed. Brought from the Cantabrian Sea, fish like red bream and hake are a major part of Valladolid's cuisine.

Ø The main speciality of Valladolid is, however, lechazo (suckling baby lamb). The lechazo is slowly roasted in a wood oven and served with salad.

Ø Valladolid also offers a great assortment of wild mushrooms. Asparagus, endive and beans can also be found. Some legumes, like white beans and lentils are particularly good. Pine nuts are also produced in great quantities.

Ø Sheep cheese from Villalón de Campos, the famous pata de mulo (mule's leg) is usually unripened (fresh), but if it is cured the ripening process brings out such flavour that it can compete with the best sheep cheeses in Spain.

Ø In the area of bread Valladolid has a bread to go with every dish, like the delicious cuadros from Medina del Campo, the muffins, the pork-scratching bread and the lechuguinos, with a pattern of concentric circles that resemble a head of lettuce.

Ø The pastries and baked goods from the province of Valladolid are well-known, specially St. Mary's ring-shaped pastries, St. Claire's sponge cakes, pine nut balls and cream fritters.

Ø Valladolid is also a producer of wines. The ones that fall under the Designation of Origin Cigales are very good. White wines from Rueda and red wines from Ribera del Duero are known for their quality.