Valladolid, Spain: best attractions, places to stay, good restaurants. Open left menu Valladolid Valladolid Spain
The city of Valladolid is famous primarily for the fact that the famous Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra lived and worked here, and it was here that he finished his “Don Quixote”. In this city in 1469, young Isabella I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon were married, who soon declared Valladolid the capital of the Spanish state. Kings were born and raised in Valladolid, Christopher Columbus died here, and here Spain was finally liberated from the Arab conquerors.
Valladolid carefully preserves everything related to its history: the city really has something to be proud of. IN historical center the atmosphere of the imperial past is felt, but beyond its borders it is a developing university and industrial city. It is famous for its jewelry factories and wineries - this is where Castilian wines, popular all over the world, are produced.
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How to get to Valladolid
The best way to get to Valladolid is from Madrid; the distance between the cities is about 190 km along the highway. There are also convenient transport links to Salamanca and Bilbao.
By train
Trains from Madrid leave every half hour from Chamartin station, the first flight is at 6:33, the last at 22:14. The journey will take from 1 to 3 hours depending on the composition, ticket for regular train costs from 24.10 EUR one way, high-speed - from 37.30 EUR. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.
Trains from Bilbao run twice a day at 9:20 and 17:00 (the journey takes about 4 hours, tickets start from 9.50 EUR). You can get from Salamanca to Valladolid in 1.5 hours and 10.45 EUR one way.
By bus
Buses from Madrid to Valladolid depart every 15-45 minutes (sometimes the interval can be increased to an hour), travel time is 2.5-3 hours, fare is from 8.50 EUR one way. The bus from Bilbao takes about 4 hours, travel will cost from 9 EUR one way, and from Salamanca you can get to Valladolid in 1.5 hours and 6 EUR.
Search for flights to Madrid (closest airport to Valladolid)
Weather in Valladolid
- Today
- Tomorrow
25 °C during the day+10 °C at night
Partly cloudy
28 °C during the day+13 °C at night
26 °C during the day+17 °C at night
The climate in Valladolid is semi-arid Mediterranean; the Spaniards themselves call it “six months of winter and six months of hell.” Summer here is hot and dry: in July and August the air temperature in the shade is about +30...+32 ºС.
According to one version, the name of the city comes from valle soleado - “sunny valley”.
But winter is long, cool and rainy. The coldest month is January, the air temperature drops to +4...+5 ºС, sometimes there are frosts, and fogs are common. Spring and autumn are also often rainy, but the weather is almost always calm, since the city is surrounded on all sides by mountains.
Valladolid Hotels
Most hotels are located in the historical center of the city. Many of them occupy ancient buildings, and this has both pros and cons. The pluses are that it is beautiful and very colorful, the minuses are that the rooms are small in size and there is no elevator in many buildings.
One of the most convenient areas to live is Calle Acera de Recoletos from Plaza Colon to Plaza Zorilla. From here you can walk to the main city attractions and railway station. Valladolid's main shopping street starts from Plaza Zorilla, and Campo Grande park is nearby. The street is quiet and there are few cars driving along it.
Breakfast in hotels in Valladolid is quite expensive - on average from 9-15 EUR, in any cafe it will be cheaper. It only makes sense to order them if you are coming to holidays, when all cafes will be closed in the morning.
Around central square Valladolid Plaza Mayor also has many nice hotels, this area is also loved by tourists: all the attractions and an abundance of bars and restaurants are within walking distance. Previously, heretics were burned at Plaza Mayor, so each room overlooking this square has a balcony - the owners rented them out as seats in the auditorium.
Most of the hotels in Valladolid are of the 2-4* category. A “four” will cost about 60-120 EUR per night for a double room, and 2-3* can easily be found for 40-50 EUR.
One of the best hotels Valladolid is considered Hotel & Spa Arzuaga 5*. It is located among the vineyards of Ribera del Duero, half an hour's drive from the city. It has its own wine spa, offering wine-infused treatments, as well as its own winery and signature wine. Accommodation - from 130 EUR per night for a double room.
Shopping in Valladolid
The central shopping street of Valladolid is Calle Santiago, where shops and shopping centers, but mostly expensive. For example, prices for jackets in the Yaker store start from 150 EUR, for jackets - from 200 EUR.
More budget shopping on Calle Angustias, for example, in the Moda S SARA store you can buy a good coat for 50 EUR. For high-quality and inexpensive shoes made of genuine leather made in Spain, you should go to Naike Outlet (not to be confused with the sports brand Nike). Women's Wonders shoes cost about 50-60 EUR there, and Clark's sandals cost 30-35 EUR.
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Cuisine and restaurants
Specialties
The local cuisine is famous for its meat and legume dishes. One of the signature dishes in many restaurants is slow-cooked suckling lamb (lechazo asado) and suckling pig (cochinillo asado) with a side dish of fresh asparagus or lentils.
If lamb or pig is more of a dish for a special occasion, then blood sausages (chorizo) are always present on the daily menu. different types, they even make tortillas - an omelette with potatoes.
In Valladolid, meat is usually cooked in the oven or on the grill: traditional restaurants local cuisine prefer to ignore modern kitchen appliances.
Fish dishes in national menu are also present. The favorite thing here is trout, which is served fried with jamon and spices (truchas con jamon). Vegetarians and others should try the local signature creamy pea soup (sopa de guisantes), which is served here with fresh herbs and croutons. Valladolid is also famous for its baked goods. Baking traditions are held in high regard in this city, many recipes have not changed since the 9th century, and bakeries are very popular family businesses, some of which are over a hundred years old.
Drinks and snacks
Ribera del Duero, where Valladolid is located, produces excellent red wines - some sommeliers call them the best in Spain. Tempranillo grapes ripen better in these parts, and it is from this that the famous dry red wine is produced here. Unlike Rioja wines, Ribera del Duero produces richer and more "strong" wines. IN small settlement Rueda near Valladolid produces white Verdejo, which has made this small village famous throughout the country.
Cheese goes with wine. Farms Valladolid is famous for its homemade goat cheese; in addition, it is in this region that cheeses from the famous Spanish brands Canal, Quevedo, Boffard, Entrepinares, Flor de Esgueva and Muniz are made.
Where to eat
Among the local restaurants, it is worth noting El Consejero del Rey, where you can try national Castilian dishes. Seafood is well prepared at the Caroba restaurant, and they also serve interesting fruit desserts. Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the historic confectionery Cubero Confeterias Pastelerias: there is a huge selection of sweets and baked goods based on signature recipes, and locals and tourists especially love truffles and almond dragees. On the eve of major holidays it is especially interesting here.
The best photos of Valladolid
Entertainment and attractions of Valladolid
There are many industrial industries in Valladolid, but the historical part of the city is carefully preserved in its original form.
The heart of the Old Town is Plaza Mayor, architectural ensemble which was formed in the 16th century. One of the most significant buildings on the square is the city municipality building; at certain hours it is open for free inspection.
Another remarkable architectural ensemble appeared in the city in the 19th century - this is one of the main streets of Valladolid, Acera de Recoletos. Here you can see a whole complex of buildings with well-preserved ancient facades.
In the Old Town there is also an unfinished cathedral - one of the main unfinished construction projects in Spain. It began to be built in the 16th century, then construction was suspended due to financial problems, and only in 1730 work on only the front part of the building was completed. Despite the fact that the cathedral is unfinished, today it hosts organ concerts and operates a museum.
The palaces of the 15th-17th centuries are very interesting: the Royal Palace, where King Philip IV was born, Los Pimentel, where King Philip II was born, and today the provincial government sits, Marques Valverde and Fabio Nelli. The Fabio Nelli Palace today houses the Valladolid Museum with collections of paintings and sculptures from the 14th to 16th centuries, furniture from the 17th century, ceramics and tapestries, and archaeological finds.
Valladolid
One of the most famous attractions of Valladolid is the house of Cervantes, where he lived from 1603 to 1606. The house museum has preserved the original furnishings, and on the table in the room there is a copy of the first edition of Don Quixote.
Another famous Spaniard, Christopher Columbus, lived in Valladolid, and his house-museum is also in the city. The original building has not survived, but the new house built on the same site accurately reproduces it. The four-story house-museum houses the navigator's personal belongings, documents, maps and trophies that he brought from his travels.
Among the religious architectural monuments, the 13th century church of Santa Maria la Antigua, built in the Romanesque style, as well as the churches of St. Benedict, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Michael and the monastery of St. Anne, which owns famous paintings by the great Spanish artist Francisco Goya, are interesting.
3 things to do in Valladolid:
- Take a look at the museum of the famous navigator Christopher Columbus.
- Eat to your heart's content with high-calorie, but extremely tasty dishes of Castilian cuisine.
- See paintings by Goya in the Monastery of St. Anne.
The city has big park Campo Grande, where you can admire the fountain and waterfall and go boating (rentals available). There are also three poultry yards where royal peacocks, pheasants, homing pigeons and other birds live.
Valladolid's best bars and pubs are concentrated in Passage Gutierrez, built in 1885 in the image of the shopping galleries of Italy and France. The place is very beautiful, especially in the evenings when the illuminations are turned on, and this is one of the most popular places for an evening glass of beer or wine among the locals.
Events
It is worth coming to Valladolid at the beginning of February, when the carnival takes place here and jugglers, tightrope walkers and other artists perform. During Easter and Holy Week it is also interesting here: sermons in the central square of the city, solemn processions, horse marches along the central streets - all this is very beautiful and unusual. However, it should be noted that this is a purely religious event, which requires a very tactful attitude, especially since the Catholic traditions in Valladolid are very strong.
Valladolid is ancient and one of the most beautiful cities Spain. He was ancient capital of the Spanish State before its transfer to Madrid. In this city Christopher Columbus died and the famous Cervantes worked. Monarchs were born here and were raised here. Today Valladolid, with its deepest historical significance for Spain, has become a great industrial center and capital province of the same name, located in northwestern Spain. It never ceases to amaze its guests with its magnificent ancient architecture and atmosphere of hospitality.
History of the city of Valladolid
There is no consensus among historians about who (Romans or Arabs) founded the city. The first mention of Valladolid dates back to the 11th century. At this time, King Leona VI commissioned Count Ansures to develop and populate the territory near the Pisuegra River. In the 13th century, a royal residence appeared here. In 1461, a major fire occurred in Valladolid, but the city was quickly rebuilt. 8 years later, the marriage ceremony of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile was secretly held in Valladolid. This event marked the beginning of the era of Spanish unification. In 1492, Valladolid became the capital of Spain. In 1561, a century after a major fire, the city burned again. After this event, the capital was moved to Madrid, and the city gradually began to decline. The historical sights of Valladolid were badly damaged during the occupation of Spain by Napoleon's troops. But, despite all the vicissitudes of its difficult fate, Valladolid is currently both a large industrial center and an attractive city for tourists.
Valladolid on the world map
Sights of Valladolid
Valladolid Cathedral The main attractions of the city are located in the historical center at the confluence of the Pisuegra and Esgueva rivers. In this area of the city is located the main unfinished building in Spain - the Valladolid Cathedral. Its construction began in the 16th century, but only in 1730 did builders finish work on the façade of the cathedral. Today it houses a museum and hosts classical music concerts.
Church of Santa Maria La Antigua Not far from the cathedral stands the Church of Santa Maria La Antigua. Built in the 13th century, the building with Romanesque architecture attracts crowds of tourists. It will also be interesting to visit the Monastery of St. Anne, where paintings by the famous Goya are exhibited.
Valladolid Plaza Mayor Valladolid's Plaza Mayor has become the heart of historical district. All the buildings on it delight the eye with the beauty of various architectural styles. And one of the most significant buildings - the city hall - can even be visited at certain hours.
The future Spanish king Philip II was born in the Los Pomintel Palace. The building has a beautiful appearance and is of great historical significance for Spain.
Cervantes House Museum One of Valladolid's most famous attractions is the Cervantes House Museum. Here he lived for 3 years. It contains the first copy of the first edition of the novel about Don Quixote.
Christopher Columbus House Museum A visit to the 4-story house-museum of Christopher Columbus will also be interesting. The museum contains the personal belongings of the discoverer of America, his notes, maps and objects that were with him on his travels.
Population of Valladolid
Today, just over 300,000 people live in Valladolid, which is not big amount inhabitants in comparison with the times of former power.
One of the most famous natives of Valladolid was Torquemada, the man who founded the order of the Spanish Inquisition.
Climate and ecology
Valladolid is surrounded by mountains on all sides. They protect it from precipitation and winds. But tourists should remember that winters here are long and cold, and summers are hot and dry. average temperature in the summer months it stays around 30 0 C.
An industrial city cannot boast of an excellent environmental situation, but operating industrial enterprises are unlikely to spoil your vacation.
Summary
Valladolid is an excellent choice for those who love studying history and relaxing in the atmosphere of an excellent city on the European continent. A pleasant addition to your holiday here will be the opportunity to visit interesting excursions and entertainment that can brighten up the leisure time of any tourist.
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 a 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 interesting historical places is 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.
- 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.
- Vinotinto. The restaurant specializes in meat dishes, they love him very much local residents. Iberica jamon is especially prized, as it is cut very thin and literally melts in your mouth. Average check: 27 euros.
- 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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Instead of hotels, you can book an apartment (on average 1.5-2 times cheaper) on AirBnB.com, a very convenient worldwide and well-known apartment rental service with a bonus of 2100 rubles upon registrationValladolid is the center of the autonomous region of Castile and Leon with a population of more than 320,000 inhabitants. The city is located in a picturesque area at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers. Valladolid was originally founded by the Moors, it was called Belad-Walid (city of the ruler), and then became the capital of the Spanish kingdom. The coronation of the famous Ferdinand of Aragon and his wedding to Isabella of Castile took place here, and in 1527 the most famous Spanish king Philip II was born here. In the 15th century An ancient university was founded in Valladolid, thanks to which the city became not only political center, but also a center of science and art.
In the 16th century the capital was moved to Madrid, after which Valladolid began to lose its importance in the culture and politics of Spain. Since the 19th century, rapid industrial construction began in the city, thanks to which it became an important industrial center. However, despite everything, Valladolid has preserved unique architectural buildings and monuments, next to which you can always plunge into the atmosphere of past greatness.
Climate and weather
The area in which Valladolid is located is characterized by a Mediterranean continental climate. Its peculiarity is the large differences in temperatures between day and night. Summers here are quite hot (+24 °C on average), and winters are cool and long (about +4 °C). The distribution of precipitation throughout the year is uneven. Most of it falls in spring and autumn, and summer is quite dry. In winter, fog and light frosts are possible.
Nature
The city of Valladolid is located in the northwestern part of Spain in the very center of the Meseta (Spanish Plateau). Within the city limits there is a confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgeva rivers, the altitude above sea level is 679 m.
Attractions
Fortunately, against the background of modern industrial enterprises of Valladolid, its numerous architectural and historical attractions are not lost. It is recommended to start your walk around the city from Santiago Street, the main pedestrian street of the old district. It leads directly to Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by ancient buildings with arcades. The city hall is located on the square, and nearby is the old Val market. Just east of the market is the main attraction of the city - the Cathedral. Its construction began in 1582, but the building has not yet been completed. Inside the temple there is an impressive huge altar made in the Baroque style.
Not far from the cathedral stands the ancient church of Santa Maria la Antigua, built in the Gothic style. The majestic Royal Palace Pimentel. Today it houses the government of the province of Valladolid. Tourists are only allowed to enter its foyer, where frescoes depicting various historical events from the lives of monarchs are displayed. Works in the next building National Museum sculptures. Its façade immediately attracts attention with its Gothic stone carvings.
Universidad Square is also interesting, where the grandiose ancient university building is located, decorated with symbols of various sciences. In the center of the square there is a monument to M. Cervantes, who lived his last years. Also noteworthy are the Renaissance-style Santa Cruz Schoolhouse, the carved Church of San Pablo and the Christopher Columbus Museum.
Nutrition
Open in Valladolid great amount restaurants, cafes and bars of different levels and directions. Some of them simply amaze visitors with their exquisite menu and interior design, while others attract with their welcoming and cozy atmosphere. In the city you can always find a budget restaurant with reasonable prices and a wide selection of dishes.
Valladolid is characterized by traditional Spanish-Castilian cuisine, which is famous for the best legumes in the whole country and selected meats. The main specialties are young lamb, cod in garlic sauce and Maragat soup, and sheep cheese is very popular among tourists. In addition, numerous restaurants serve traditional dishes from asparagus, lentils, beans, mushrooms and chicory. Also in this region, various freshly baked breads are very popular; here they are baked simply masterfully.
In Valladolid, as throughout the country, you can always try various tapas (Spanish snacks). They are served in a variety of ways, from shrimp to marinated olives and small pieces of tortilla (Spanish omelette). The city even hosts tapas cooking competitions every year.
It is recommended to wash down all these delights with excellent wines produced in the region. The red wines of this area have become some of the most famous in Castile and Spain. They are produced from the Tempranillo grape variety and have a bright character and a pleasant fruity taste.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Valladolid is plentiful and offers a reasonable ratio of quality and price. The most expensive and luxurious hotels (from 70 €), for example, Hotel & Spa Arzuaga and Posada Real Casa del Abad, are located in the picturesque historical quarter of the city. On the western bank of the Pisuerga River (Plaza Mayor area) you can find excellent mid-price hotels (Hostal Paris, etc.). On the way to the city station there are also a number of hotels and boarding houses, and there are many quite cheap options.
Entertainment and relaxation
The most important and favorite holiday of the population of Valladolid is Easter, when the city is filled with a large number of tourists and various fairs and interesting events take place. During Holy Week on main square Sermons are read in the city, and traditional ceremonial processions and horse marches take place along the central streets. These events always make an amazing impression and amaze with their scale. In addition, other Spanish and religious holidays are celebrated in Valladolid, such as the Feast of the Magi and the Summer Solstice.
Also, every autumn since 1956, the Valladolid International Film Festival has been held here annually. It was this festival that once introduced Spanish film fans to such famous directors as Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman.
The city's nightlife is concentrated directly in central region. There are a number of popular nightclubs, bars and taverns here. Some of them offer flamenco dancing every night, while others play jazz. Very noteworthy is the antique establishment El Penicilino, which looks more like a pharmacy than a bar, where you can try a fluorescent fruit liqueur.
Purchases
The most favorite and most visited place for shopping in Valladolid is the huge shopping and entertainment center Centro comercial Vallsur. It contains a large number of stores of household appliances, clothing, accessories and other goods. There are also small eateries, a billiards club, places for recreation and entertainment venues for children.
The best market in the city is rightfully Mercado del Val, where you can find not only fresh food, purchases for your home and family, but also rare antique Spanish things.
There are quite a lot of small souvenir shops and shops in Valladolid. The best souvenir products can be purchased at the Sandalo store, which includes a wide variety of Spanish-style jewelry, as well as ethnic boxes, figurines, embroidery, etc. Also notable is the Biplano store, where you can buy the most different models planes, cars, tanks and ships.
Transport
Valladolid has an excellent public transport system, and you can rent a car at one of the many rental offices.
The city's public transport is a network of bus routes operated by the city company AUVASA. The bus fleet consists of more than 150 units with an average service life of 6 years, and 73% of them run on liquefied gas in order to reduce harmful emissions.
There are a total of 22 regular ones in Valladolid bus routes and 8 morning. During various holidays and events, 13 more special routes are added, which run with a fairly high frequency. The cost of a single bus ride is 1.1 €; Tarjeta BonoBus passes are also available.
Connection
There are public Telefonica machines in all areas of the city; calls can be paid both in cash and with telephone cards, which are sold at kiosks and hotels. From any machine you can make not only a local call, but also an international one. WITH mobile phone It is possible to make and receive roaming calls, although it will be more profitable to connect to a local operator. Registered letters, parcels and telegrams are sent from Correos post offices, and you can use the Internet in one of the Internet cafes.
Safety
In Valladolid, as throughout Spain, the police are divided into three autonomous units. Thanks to their coordinated and responsible work, the city is absolutely safe at any time of the day. National police control public order and deals with all matters of internal security, the local police resolve traffic issues and protect citizens, and the Civil Guard maintains general order. It is recommended to always have a copy of your passport with you, because... The police quite often ask for identification documents.
Business climate
Valladolid has relatively recently become one of the largest industrial centers in Spain. Mechanical engineering and the chemical industry are considered profitable industries for investment here. Jewelry factories and wineries are also profitable enterprises.
Real estate
The demand for real estate, especially residential, in Spain is constantly growing. And this is not at all surprising if you consider a number of advantages: this moment prices here are lower than in other EU countries, and infrastructure, safety and legislation are no different. According to experts, Valladolid, being a large industrial center, has excellent potential in the real estate market. The cost here is significantly lower than in Madrid or Barcelona, but the city is constantly developing and expanding, so after some time, prices for local real estate will rise quickly.
For tourists in Valladolid, a special Valladolid Card is offered, which provides a number of advantages. For example, its owners have the right to free trip V tourist bus And free visit many museums. You can get the card at tourist offices city or at the airport. The Valladolid Card costs €3, and its validity is limited to one day.
You simply cannot ignore the city where perhaps the most famous Spaniard in the world, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, lived and worked. Meet Valladolid! Located in the heart of old Castile, this Big City witnessed the birth and development of the Spanish state and was the capital of the Spanish Empire before it was moved to Madrid. Kings were born and raised here, Columbus died here, and Cervantes finished his Don Quixote.
It was in Valladolid in 1469 that young Isabella I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon arrived for a secret wedding, who were to begin the unification of Spanish lands and complete the liberation of the peninsula from the Arab conquerors. They would later make Valladolid the capital of their state. The imperial scope is still felt in the strength of the ancient walls and the grace of the palaces of a city that is rightly proud of its past.
Sights of Valladolid
Most of Valladolid's attractions are concentrated in the city center, outlined by the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers. It is here that the 16th-century Valladolid Cathedral is located, one of the main unfinished buildings in Spain. According to the architect's idea, the cathedral was to become the largest in Europe, however, as often happens, finances failed. Nowadays, the cathedral regularly hosts classical music concerts, during which, by candlelight and the majestic sounds of the organ, you can easily feel like you are in the distant Middle Ages. There is also a museum in the cathedral, and ruins adjoin one of its walls. old church XI century.
A building made of light limestone with a facade reminiscent of the creations of lacemakers, this is the National Museum of Sculpture of Valladolid, which houses valuable collections of wooden and stone sculptures, carved altars, statues of saints and entire compositions on religious themes. The museum occupies three buildings, the main of which, St. Gregory's College, is itself an architectural gem. The other two are the Villena Palace, an aristocratic residence from the 16th century, and the Casa del Sol, also from the 16th century.
The Cervantes House, where he lived from 1603 to 1606, is another of Valladolid's famous landmarks. The house-museum has retained its original furnishings, and on the table in the room there is a copy of the first edition of Don Quixote. If you close your eyes for a second, you can imagine how the famous writer, twirling his mustache, puts the last point under the legendary manuscript.
For those wondering what to see in Valladolid, the House Museum of Columbus, another famous Spaniard, is mandatory place to visit. This building partially reproduces the palace of Christopher Columbus's son, Diego Columbus, located in the capital Dominican Republic. It was built on the site of an old house that belonged to the navigator’s family and, unfortunately, has not survived.
The museum, consisting of four floors and dedicated to the four voyages of the discoverer of America, houses Columbus's personal belongings, records, maps, instruments, as well as objects that he brought from his voyages. Difficult path of life famous traveler ended in Valladolid on May 20, 1506. It is believed that he died without knowing how great a discovery he had made.
One of best places for families with children in Valladolid - this is Campo Grande, the largest natural park in the city. Its most attractive part is considered to be a pond with a fountain and a waterfall. Children will definitely enjoy a boat ride, and even more... the royal peacocks, walking freely along all the paths of the park and willingly showing off their fantastic plumage to others. In Campo Grande there are three poultry farms where pheasants, homing pigeons and other birds live.
If the day is drawing to a close, and the ardor of exploration has not yet died down, welcome to Passage Gutiérrez, built in 1885 in the image of shopping galleries in Italy and France. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and magical places in Valladolid, hidden in the city center. It especially comes to life in the evening, when the illumination turns on, and city residents and tourists begin to fill the bars and pubs, which now mainly occupy the territory of the arcade.
Weather in Valladolid
Tourists wishing to explore the sights of Valladolid should remember that the summer here is quite hot and dry: in July and August the thermometer reaches 30 ºС. According to one version, even the name of the city comes from the phrase valle soleado, which means “sunny valley” in Spanish. Winter here is long and cool, and the coldest month in the city is January, when the temperature drops to an average of 4 ºС.
When to go?
A trip to Valladolid can be timed to coincide with one of the holidays that take place in the city. Perhaps one of the most fun and colorful is the Valladolid Carnival, which usually takes place in early February. At this time, performances by jugglers and tightrope walkers, dance schools, colorful processions and carnival costume competitions take place on the streets of the city.
Also in Valladolid, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is widely celebrated, when the streets of the city are filled with religious processions. This is a unique opportunity to see rare sculptures and figures that are kept for most of the year in various churches, temples and monasteries in the province. The tradition dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and the pomp with which Holy Week is celebrated in Valladolid has caused the holiday to be declared an international tourist event.
In the fall, on September 8, Valladolid celebrates the day of the patron saint of the city, Our Lady of San Lorenzo. According to legend, this image appeared in Valladolid in the 11th or 12th centuries, when a priest brought it to the city to save it from Arab conquerors. The festivities last ten days, during which all kinds of fairs, theatrical performances, tastings and concerts take place in Valladolid.
Where to stay in Valladolid?
Most of the hotels in Valladolid are decorated in a classic style, reminiscent of past centuries. Among them there are both relatively inexpensive ones, such as Hotel Roma or Hostal Paris, and more luxurious ones, such as Hotel Melia Recoletos.
Hotel El Coloquio occupies Historical building and is ideally suited for exploring the center of Valladolid, as it is located right next to the walls Cathedral and just 180 meters from the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua, another landmark of Valladolid. The hotel's unique design combines modern trends with details from centuries past, such as exposed brick walls and raw wood beams. The hotel is named after one of Cervantes' works, which he wrote while in Valladolid.