Travel Guide Valladolid

In the heart of the vast Castilian plateau of the Meseta, Valladolid la Fiere has turned its back on its former splendour to make way for a modernity without much charm. Historically, its past merges with that of Castile: it was born with the repopulation of Christian lands around the 12th century, became the capital of the flourishing region, witnessed the coronation of Ferdinand of Aragon and then his marriage to Isabella of Castile. In the 16th century, the Spanish crown was taken over by Madrid. A long period of decline then began, marked in 1809 by the invasion of Napoleonic troops who established their headquarters there. The arrival of the railway in the last century triggered a rapid industrialization. Today, the dynamic capital of the region lives in a time of urban development, which disfigures its old districts in an anarchic way. Today, in this city of nearly 300,000 inhabitants, only a few of the 600 palaces and residences of yesteryear remain, lost in the midst of the new buildings. However, a stopover is essential to visit its rich museum of polychrome sculptures or to enjoy the beautiful views from the cathedral's viewpoint. You will also appreciate its lively university and cultural life.