Valladolid is one of the most ancient and breathtaking places in Spain. A long time ago this city was the capital of the country, and even today you can find the remains of mighty fortresses and towers. Today, however, Valladolid has turned into a rather serious industrial city, and you will be charmed not only by the historical part, but also by modern architecture. If you want to spend an unforgettable weekend in one of the most interesting places of the Iberian Peninsula, feel free to go to a tour operator with a clear requirement: Valladolid (Spain). You will hear only positive reviews about this city, and if you dare to go there on vacation, make sure of this pleasant fact. So, what to see in the Spanish city of Valladolid? Read more about it below.
Valladolid is a tourist destination?
On the other hand, you may be confused by the fact that very few people actually know about Valladolid. This city does not have such a well-known reputation as a tourist center like Madrid or Barcelona, it is rarely mentioned in the news. For example, latelyhe was attracted by the Spanish Cup "Valladolid" - "Tenerife", that is, one of the matches of the country's football cup, where on one of the Canary Islands a game took place between a local team and representatives of our ancient residence of kings. Valladolids, by the way, lost.
Besides, you can learn a lot about the city if you are interested in the history of the sunny Iberian Peninsula. So, it was here that the residence of the kings of Castile, the heart of the Spanish kingdom, was located for four centuries from the thirteenth century to the seventeenth. Accordingly, the remnants of a great culture and history simply fill the streets of Valladolid, leaving no inquisitive tourist in the world indifferent. Even despite the absence of a halo of a tourist Mecca, this place attracts the attention of many travelers. If you do not know where to go, then this place will be a very good choice, and you will be able to show off to your friends that you have been to this city for a long time.
Where to stay?
So vacation. You have arrived at the final destination of the ticket indicating: Valladolid (Spain). The sights of the city will, however, not be your first point of travel, you should first settle in one of the many hotels. The latter, by the way, suit every taste and budget: from expensive five-star establishments that repeat the atmosphere of the charming Spanish Middle Ages, to small and cozy rooms where anyone who does not have such big finances can settle.
Valladolid(Spain): Description
When you figured out where to stay, you should proceed directly to the study of the city. For lovers of a more measured tourist holiday, there is a whole series of excursions during which you will be told and shown everything about the sights of Valladolid, but you have to pay for this. Often this makes budget tourists refuse excursions, so we will try to help you explore the city by telling you basic information about it. In addition, independent discoveries are always much more pleasant and better remembered than what some guide will tell you.
City Center
The center of Valladolid is located along Santiago Street, walking along it will lead you to Mayor Square. Here is located most of the administrative and citywide buildings - the city hall, opposite it is the Val market. The square itself is surrounded by many buildings with beautiful arches, and it is this place that can be called the starting point for any tourist. Often the first day of the trip is completely spent on considering the architecture of the city center, buying souvenirs and visiting the malls. Nearby, right at your fingertips, cozy cafes where you can take a break from the bustle of the city.
Cathedrals, churches and palaces
If the city center is sorted out, you can move on. One of the main and most important sights of Valladolid can be considered the Cathedral. This cultural and religious value beganbuilt back in 1582, more than four hundred years ago, and not fully completed to this day. Entering this huge building, you can walk inside several exhibition halls of the city museum, located right in the cathedral, see, for example, many valuable relics, which include a large stone altar. It has not only religious value, but also cultural - made in the Baroque style, this altar attracts the attention of many professional art historians, not to mention tourists. Near the cathedral is the church of Santa Maria la Antigua, as well as the old Pimentel Palace, the former residence of the kings, and today the government is located there.
National Sculpture Museum
The imagination of tens of thousands of tourists cannot but capture the pinnacle of architectural creativity - the National Museum of Sculpture. The building itself is already a masterpiece: unimaginable frescoes, many walls and ceilings decorated with hand-carved stone, together with the high severity of the walls, more reminiscent of a fortress than a museum building. Inside, there is an equally impressive collection of wooden sculptures, as well as frequently changing exhibitions, which will be interesting to see for any visitor to Valladolid.
Universities and schools
Another notable building worth seeing is the Universidad. Valladolid (Spain), whose sights are presented in the article, is also famous for such monuments as the National Museumsculptures and the Cathedral, so do not miss the opportunity to see everything with your own eyes. A guide also leads tourists along the same route, telling in detail about all the sights. So, Universidad, as you can understand, even without knowing Spanish at all, is an old university building. It was opened more than five hundred years ago, and like any ancient monumental building, it attracts the attention of travelers. The facade of the building is decorated with symbols of sciences, thus giving it an unusual medieval poetry. Directly opposite the university is the Santa Cruz School, like all the old buildings in the city - decorated with unique stone carvings.
Heritage of Castile
It is in Valladolid that a tourist can feel the depth and uniqueness of the culture of Castile, the medieval severity of fortresses and Catholic cathedrals, see unique and exciting stone patterns on most ancient buildings that excite the imagination of any traveler. The Valladolids themselves are very sensitive to their cultural heritage, keeping some corners of the city since the early Middle Ages. Small, narrow streets seem to take us into chivalric romances, and captivating baroque buildings for people accustomed to the gray landscapes of panel quarters will generally become some kind of revelation from above. Excursions in the city are carried out mainly along the same route as the order with which we described the sights of the city. And besides this, there is something to see here, the historical centerThe city is literally dotted with large medieval mansions. There are dozens of magnificent churches and huge castles here.
