Central Spain
Valladolid
Back to Europe 2015
Segovia
Alcalá de Henares
Carbonero el Mayor
Valladolid was originally settled in pre-Roman times by the Celtic Vaccaei people, and later the Romans themselves.
The Moors established a strong presence in Valladolid - according to one theory, the name means "city of Al-Walid",
referring to Al-Walid I. During the time of Muslim rule in Spain the Christian kings moved the population of this region
north into more easily defended areas, and deliberately created a no man's land to guard 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. It grew to prominence in the Middle Ages as the seat of the Court of Castile. The Catholic
Monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, married in Valladolid in 1469 and established it as the capital of the Kingdom
of Castile and later of united Spain. Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid in 1506.
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| Fountain outside our hotel next to the downtown transit plaza near Plaza de España. |
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| Iglesia de Santa Maria la Antigua - Old St. Mary's. Interesting for the romanesque tower on the gothic church |
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| Portal of the University of Valladolid. |
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| Spanish wine is great, and inexpensive. |
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| View across Valladolid from our friend's apartment. |
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| Dishing up some lechazo. Yum! | Lechazo and temperanillo. Unbeatable combination. |
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| Buñuelos are a traditional desert - filled with creamy goodness. |
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| Restored portal near Plaza Mayor. |
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| Courtyard reflecting Moorish influence. |
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| Valladolid is full of great architecture. These palaces on the Paseo Zorilla are
fine examples. It has been an especially important city since it
became the capital of Castilla-Aragon, and all of Spain, under
Ferdinand and Isabella. | This one is called the Casa Mantilla. Check this page out to see more of Valladolid's architecture: http://myplace.frontier.com/~paulgriffith2/pix/valladolid.html |
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| Plaza Mayor. |
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| Ayuntimiento - City Hall - Plaza Mayor. |
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| Statue
of Conde Pedro Ansúrez. Castillian control of Valladolid was
re-established by King Alfonso VI of Castile as a Lordship for Count
Pedro Ansúrez in 1072, who set the small settlement on the path to
becoming an important city. |
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| Monument to Christopher Columbus in the Plaza de Colón. |
Back to Europe 2015
Segovia
Alcalá de Henares
Carbonero el Mayor