Valladolid (Spain) Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Valladolid is the capital of the province of the same name, and of the region of Castile-Leon in Spain.
Valladolid is a reasonably large, industrial city to the northwest of Madrid. It is the capital of Castile-Leon and a major regional centre. The city has an older core with some interesting buildings, however it has focussed more on industry than tourism.
Contents |
Get in
Ryanair offers direct flights to Valladolid from London Stansted and Brussels Charleroi.
Get around
See
The best cultural thing that Valladolid has in the polychrome wood museum (MUSEO DE ESCULTURA). Some of the sculptures are used in the Easter holidays when Valladolid becomes a famous city because its religious tradition. You cannot miss the museum.
Next to the museum there is the San Pablo church with a beautiful façade. Not far away (3 minutes walking) you can find the Antigua church, representing the romanic style in Valladolid. You also have the San Benito church in the city centre which deserves to have a look inside.
The cathedral is uncompleted because the arquitect Juan de Herrera was called to build The Escorial.You can see one of the main towers missing.
The main square is attractive, and hasn't suffered too much over the years. Nearby the market hall has an attractive design in iron.
There is a park between the railway station and the centre (CAMPO GRANDE), and alongside the river. Neither is much to write home about.
Do
Buy
Eat
In the city centre, you can find many restaurants. Castilla y Leon is known because of the suckling pig and suckling lamb. In Valladolid, it is more famous the suckling lamb, and there are restaurants where you go exclusively to eat lamb and the waiters ask you just for the drinks.
You can also find good places to eat the suckling pig. Valladolid has been getting the tapas culture last years. Unfortunately you have to pay for tapas everywhere in Valladolid. There are many cities in Spain where the tapas are for free with your drink. The tapas culture has been created thanks to a tapas competition between the pubs in Valladolid which is run every year. It has so much success that the Council have created a national competition in 2005. If you want to visit Valladolid for a weekend it is worth to see when the tapas competition is.
You get another good chance at the beginning of September when the festival is. All the pubs put bars in the street, and next to the Stadium you can find marquees from different Spanish areas where you can taste all the typical and famous Spanish dishes.
You find good tapas bar in the old part of the city centre, but my favourite is in Calle Correos, on the back of the Council. This pub has won the tapas competition a year.
Drink
The region of Castilla y Leon is famous because its wines (Ribera de Duero). Around Valladolid there are many wine cellars and vineyard due to this tradition. There are many good wines, but the most famous wine is Vega Sicilia.
Sleep
Get out
| This article is still a stub and needs your attention. It does not have a template and contains minimal information. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
