Valladolid

Valladolid, also known as Pucela, is a city in Spain and the main seat of government for the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the province of Valladolid. With a population of 299,816 as of 2024, it is the largest city in the region.

The city is located near the center of the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula's Meseta Central, where the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers meet before joining the Duero. It is surrounded by areas where wine is grown.

Valladolid has a rich history. The area was home to the Vaccaei in ancient times. The city was founded after 1072 and became important under the Crown of Castile. It was briefly the capital of the Hispanic Monarchy from 1601 to 1606. In the 19th century, improvements in transportation helped the city grow, and it later became a center for the automotive industry.

Each year, Valladolid hosts many events, including the famous Holy Week, the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championships, and the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci). In 2019, it was named a City of Film by UNESCO. The city and its surrounding areas are home to about 0.4 million people.

Name

The city of Valladolid has many old names. It was once called Valledolit, and later names included Valledolidi and Valleolide.

Some people think the name Valladolid comes from an old language meaning "valley of waters," because several rivers meet there. Others believe it comes from an Arabic phrase meaning "city of al-Walid." There is also a theory that it means "valley of olives," though there are no olives there—only many pine trees.

In the Middle Ages, the city was known as Vallisoletum, meaning "sunny valley." Today, people sometimes call the city Pucela, though no one knows exactly why. One idea is that it comes from a type of cement sold there long ago.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Valladolid.

Precedents

The Vaccaei were a Celtic tribe, the first people documented as living in the middle valley of the River Duero.

Remains of Celtiberian and Roman camps have been found near the city. The city started in the area of the current San Miguel y el Rosarillo square and was surrounded by a wooden fence. Proofs of old walls have been found.

After Muslims came to Spain in 711, Christian kings moved people to safer places and created an empty area to protect against attacks from the south. The area was taken back by the Christian king Alfonso I of Asturias in the 700s, but it had few people until after the Christians won the battle of Simancas in 939.

Repopulation and growth

In 1072 Alfonso VI of León and Castile gave the Lordship of Valladolid to Count Pedro Ansúrez. He and his wife Eylo Alfónsez started the city of Valladolid around this time. By 1084, they were building the city. They built a palace and a church, and Eylo started three hospitals and two more churches. People from Carrión and Saldaña came to live there.

In the 1200s and 1300s, Valladolid grew quickly because kings Alfonso VIII and Alfonso X gave it special trading rights.

Early modern period

In 1469, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon got married in the city; by the 1400s Valladolid was where the kings of Castile lived. In 1506, Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid and believed he had reached the Indies.

From 1554 to 1559, Joanna of Austria, sister of Philip II, ruled for him from Valladolid, making it an important political place. She supported one group in the court of Philip II. Some people in the city followed new ideas about religion, and in 1559 leaders made decisions against them. A big fire in 1561 damaged part of the city.

In 1550–1551 the town had the first important discussion in Europe about how to treat local people when they were taken over.

Valladolid became a city in 1596 and also became a place for church leaders.

For a short time between 1601 and 1606, Valladolid was the main city of the kingdom under Philip III. This happened because a leader named the Duke of Lerma wanted to move the capital there for business reasons. After a sickness in Valladolid, the leader suggested the king return to Madrid.

The city was damaged by a flood from the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers.

Contemporary history

Starting in 1950, Valladolid became an important place for factories. Companies like ENDASA, FASA, TECNAUTO and SAVA started in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1964 the city was named a place for growing industry. In the 1960s and early 1970s many people moved to Valladolid from nearby areas. The city started growing on the west side of the Pisuerga river in the early 1960s.

When the area of Castile and León was being created as its own in the 1980s, Valladolid wanted to be the main city. Even though it wasn’t officially named in the rules, Valladolid became the main place for government in 1987.

On 25 June 2024, a church built in 1581 fell apart during renovation, filling the city with dust.

Jewish History

The first record of Jewish people in Valladolid is from 1221. In 1288, a king said Jews could not buy land in Valladolid. In 1322, Jews could not treat Christian patients or go to Jewish or Muslim weddings. Jews also could not hold government jobs. In the early 1400s, new rules took away the rights of Jewish people in Valladolid. In 1432, leaders talked with a Jewish leader and agreed to give some rights back. A Jewish poet wrote poems about how Jewish people were treated. By the 1500s, there were no Jewish people left in Valladolid after they were forced to leave Spain.

Geography

Valladolid is situated about 735 metres above sea level in the middle of the Meseta Norte, a plateau drained by the Duero river basin that covers much of the northwest part of the Iberian Peninsula. The city was first built in the 11th century on a small hill near where the Esgueva meets the Pisuerga river. Today, Valladolid stretches across both sides of the Pisuerga, which is an important tributary of the Douro river.

In addition to its main area, the city includes two separate pieces of land: Navabuena, which is quite large and holds a prison, and El Rebollar, a smaller area.

Climate

Valladolid has a special kind of climate called a continentalized hot-summer Mediterranean climate, which means it can get quite warm in summer and cool in winter. Because it is high up and far from the sea, winters can be windy and foggy, sometimes with snow. The city receives rain throughout the year, with an average of 433 mm (about 17 inches) of rain each year.

Administration

Valladolid is a municipality, which is the basic local administrative division in Spain. The Ayuntamiento de Valladolid is the body responsible for the city's government and administration. It is made up of 27 elected councillors who choose the mayor. The most recent election was on May 26, 2019. Since 2015, Óscar Puente from the PSOE has been serving as the mayor, and he was re-elected in 2019 for another term.

Demographics

Valladolid is a busy city with many people living there. As of 2024, about 299,816 people live in the city itself. If you count the nearby towns and areas, the total number of people is even bigger.

Many families and young people live in smaller towns just outside the city because it can be more affordable. Some of these nearby places include Laguna de Duero, Boecillo, Arroyo de la Encomienda, and Zaratán. In addition, a part of the city's population comes from other countries, making Valladolid a diverse place.

Economy

Valladolid is a big city in Spain with a strong economy. The automotive industry is very important there. A company called FASA-Renault started in 1953 to build cars, and later became Renault España. In 1957, Sava began making trucks and was later joined by other companies like Pegaso and Iveco. Michelin, a French tire company, is also a key part of the city's industry.

Besides cars and trucks, Valladolid has many other industries. These include food processing, like making chocolate with Cadbury and cheese with Lactalis, as well as metallurgy, chemicals, and printing. Most people in Valladolid work in services, which is the biggest job sector in the city. Farming is a small part of the economy, with crops like wheat, barley, and sugar beet.

Education

Education in Valladolid is managed by the Ministry of Education of the Government of Castile and León. This group takes care of schools and universities in the area.

Universities

University of Valladolid

Main article: University of Valladolid

The University of Valladolid (UVA) started in 1241. It is one of the oldest universities in the world. It has four main places around the city and three more in other towns like Palencia, Soria and Segovia. Many teachers work there, and thousands of students study in different subjects.

Miguel de Cervantes European University

Main article: Miguel de Cervantes European University

The Miguel de Cervantes European University is a private school with about 1,500 students. It teaches subjects like social sciences, law, economics, health, and technology. The school has grown and now has more space for learning and research. It also has a dental clinic and a library.

Primary and secondary schools

There are special schools near Valladolid, such as the Lycée Français de Castilla y León, a French school located in Laguna de Duero. There are also private schools like San Juán Bautista de La Salle School, which offers classes from young children to high school students.

Architecture

Valladolid has many beautiful buildings from different times. You can see old stone towers from the 12th century at churches like Santa María La Antigua and San Martín. The School of San Gregorio shows wonderful Gothic style, and the Church of San Pablo mixes Gothic with Renaissance designs.

The Plaza Mayor is a famous square started in 1561 after a big fire. It has stone columns and wooden parts that inspired other buildings nearby. The Cathedral of Valladolid took many years to finish, and the Teatro Lope de Vega theater was built in 1861 but needs fixing up. The Campo Grande park dates back to 1787. Many buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s still stand, showing mixes of different styles.

Transport

Public transport

The city used trams from 1881 to 1933. In 1928, buses began running, first run by private companies and later by the city itself. Today, a public company called AUVASA manages the bus system with 22 regular routes and 5 night routes.

High-speed rail

Valladolid-Campo Grande railway station is part of Spain’s fast train network, called AVE. The fast rail line between Madrid and Valladolid opened on December 22, 2007. This line goes through a very long tunnel and will connect the north and northwest of Spain to the rest of the country. Trains on this line can travel up to 320 kilometers per hour. The trip to Madrid takes about 56 minutes.

Roads

Many highways connect the city to other parts of the country.

Airport

The city’s airport is located in Villanubla, not inside the city. It has flights to Barcelona, Málaga, and the Canary Islands.

Culture

Spanish is the official language spoken in Valladolid. The city is famous for being the home of the writer Miguel de Cervantes, who wrote Don Quixote. Many people visit Valladolid to learn Spanish.

One of the most important events in Valladolid is Holy Week. During this time, people celebrate with special processions. These processions include carrying beautiful religious statues through the streets. The most emotional moment is when a special statue returns to the church.

Valladolid also hosts an important film festival called Seminci. This festival started in 1956 and has shown many films that were not allowed elsewhere.

The local food in Valladolid is special. Even though it is far from the sea, fish like red bream and hake is enjoyed. A famous dish is lechazo, which is roasted baby lamb served with salad. The area also has many wild mushrooms, vegetables, and tasty cheeses. Valladolid is also known for its breads and pastries, as well as its wines.

Sports

Valladolid has an important football club called Real Valladolid, also known as Pucela. They play in Spain's second-highest league, called LaLiga Hypermotion. Some of their players have gone on to play for the Spain national football team, including Fernando Hierro, José Luis Caminero, and Rubén Baraja. Their home games are held at Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla, a stadium built for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

The city also has a new basketball team, Real Valladolid Baloncesto, which replaced an older team that stopped in 2015. Some famous players once played for that older team, including Arvydas Sabonis and Oscar Schmidt. The basketball games are played at Polideportivo Pisuerga.

Rugby is very popular in Valladolid, with two strong teams, VRAC and CR El Salvador, who have won many titles. They play at Estadio Pepe Rojo.

The city also has a large bullring called Plaza de toros de Valladolid, which opened in 1890 and can hold 11,000 people.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Valladolid has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include:

• Florence, Italy (2007)
• Lecce, Italy (2009)
• Lille, France (1987)
• Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico (1978)
• Orlando, Florida, United States (2006)

Other partnerships

Valladolid also works together with these places:

• Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
• Boston, Massachusetts, United States
• Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
• Kenitra, Morocco
• Lovech, Bulgaria (2004)

Notable people

Valladolid has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals from the city include Anne of Austria, who was Queen of France, and Miguel Delibes, a respected writer. The city also saw the birth of Henry IV of Castile, a king of Castile and León, and Philip II of Spain, who ruled Spain and Portugal. Other notable figures include Roldán Rodríguez, a racing driver, and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who served as the Spanish Prime Minister.