Valladolid Area Guide

The city of Valladolid stands on the River Pisuerga and offers an interesting Renaissance group of buildings in its old quarter, made up of houses, palaces, churches and a magnificent unfinished Cathedral. It is the capital of Castella-León with some excellent culture being a university city as well as hosting events like the Seminci, International Film Week which is an event not to be missed in the Spanish cinema calendar.

The cities which surround Valladolid include Burgos, Avila, Segovia, Leon, Zamora and Salamanca. All are within a two hour car journey and offer a rich mixture of styles from Baroque, Renaissance, Romanesque and earlier periods. There is an amazing wealth of churches, monasteries, universities, castles, palaces, beautiful squares, Roman bridges and a unique aqueduct in Segovia. The smaller towns and villages near to Valladolid each have something unique to offer with Fuensaldaña, La Seca and Cigales in the wine growing areas being good places to purchase some fine red and white wines.

The Tierra de Campos brings you to medieval towns like Medina de Rioseco and beautiful examples of popular Valladolid architecture like Villalón de los Campos or Castromonte which is known for its medicinal waters. The small village of Warriba has a 12th century Romanesque church with many thousands of skulls and bones carefully placed around its walls acting as a memory of those slain in battle in the time of the Visigoths. The surrounding towns and villages are noted for their castles surrounded by moats or set high on ridges and hills dominating the landscape, acting as a constant reminder why the region is called Castilla.

Valladolid has played an important role in Spanish history. It was conquered by the Christians from the Moors in the 10th century, rose to prominence in the 12th and 13th centuries, and largely replaced Toledo as the chief residence of the kings of Castile in the 15th century. In 1469 it was the scene of the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella.Visit our guide to attractions in Valladolid to find out more about this fascinating city.

There are five excellent golf courses in Valladiolid and its immediate environs. For details on the course layout, amenities and contact details visit our guide to golf in Valladolid.

 

Castilian cuisine offers all the specialities of the region, from varied soups to fabulous roast lamb and suckling pig served with fresh vegetables. Some restaurants offer traditional cookery while others offer imaginative specialities. This region is known for its magnificent wines. To find out more visit our restaurant guide to Valladolid.

 

The shops in Valladolid normally open at about 10:00 am and close around 8:30 pm, Monday-Saturday. Most of the shops here still have a siesta in the afternoon from about 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm.

To find out where to shop in Valladolid and what the best local buys are, visit our shopping guide to Valladolid

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car There are a number of car hire firms based at Valladolid Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on other sporting and leisure amenities in Valladolid including an Area Guide to Valladolid which contains information on Valladolid local attractions, golf courses in Valladolid, good places to shop in Valladolid and a list of recommended Valladolid restaurants