There is another Valladolid

Even many Spaniards today only know Valladolid as a light industrial center. However, Valladolid can completely compete with the top tourist centers in Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia because of the attractiveness of culture and history...

The city of Valladolid possesses a rare historical treasure.

Ancient city

The first impression of Valladolid for many visitors is that this city is extremely small and pretty. Only about 300,000 people live in Valladolid, and visitors can visit all the famous destinations just by walking. The first destination that pedestrians should visit is San Pablo Square, the "heart" of Valladolid. In the middle of the square is the monument to King Philip II (1527 - 1598). He was born and raised in Valladolid. Pimentel Castle along with the nearby Royal Palace of Valladolid were the residence and workplace of many generations of Spanish royalty. These two buildings are famous for their typical Renaissance architecture and collection of artifacts about the life and career of Philip II and many other Spanish rulers.

Next to Pimentel Castle is the San Pablo Church. Both Philip II and Philip IV (1605 - 1665) were baptized here. French Emperor Napoleon (1769 - 1821) also visited the church. Europe has many magnificent churches, but few churches have turned their facades into extremely magnificent reliefs like San Pablo. Any book about Gothic architecture will use the facade of San Pablo Church as an example. Inside, San Pablo Church does not have as much gold, silver, or stained glass as other Western European churches, but the architect cleverly used windows and natural light to highlight the beauty of the white stones used to build the church.

Valladolid has no less than 20 museums. Visitors should not miss the National Sculpture Museum, which houses the most valuable collection of Spanish sculptures from the 13th to 19th centuries. Visitors will find works by masters such as Alonso Berruguete (1488 - 1561), Gregorio Fernández (1576 - 1636) and Pedro de Mena (1628 - 1688).

Not far from the National Sculpture Museum are three museums that preserve the memories of three famous people. The first is the poet and actor José Zorrilla (1817 - 1893) - a son of Valladolid who made the city famous with many historical plays and romantic epics. The second famous person is none other than the famous explorer Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506). He spent the last year of his life in a small house in Valladolid, where many of his documents are on display. The third famous person is the great writer Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616). He wrote the famous novel "Don Quixote" while living in Valladolid. The house where he lived is now a museum named after the writer and welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

Enjoy life in the present

Valladolid is not all about the past. The city has many pleasures worth enjoying. Valladolid cuisine is famous for its grilled dishes, the most famous of which is lechazo. Lambs under 35 days old are roasted over a muskwood fire, giving them an unmistakable aroma. Lechazo is served with soups such as sopa de chimaros (beans stewed in mint leaves) and coliflor al ajoarriero (cauliflower stewed in garlic). For dessert, there are bolla de chicharrones (pork skin dumplings), roscos de yema (egg fritters), mariquitas (fried plantains)...

Valladolid is located between five famous wine regions: Cigales, Toro, Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Tierra de León. All five regions have protected geographical indications. Ribera wine in particular has been favored by Western European aristocracy for hundreds of years. The Spanish royal family loved Rueda wine, and today, Rueda wineries still maintain the tradition of presenting wine to the king every year. The local red, white and rosé wines have a unique flavor thanks to the main ingredients: grapes grown on sandy, limestone and clay soils. Some farms and wineries in the area have opened homestay services for visitors to experience every stage of winemaking from grape picking to bottling.

Real Valladolid Football Club was promoted to La Liga last season. Tourists visiting Valladolid should not miss the opportunity to see the team play. Real Valladolid fans are so passionate that they sometimes party before kick-off, so celebrate with pints of beer and skewers of the famous salchicha de Zaratán sausage.

Apart from religious festivals, the two most famous events in Valladolid are the World Tapas Championship and the Valladolid International Film Festival (commonly known as Seminci). Tapas is not just a specific dish but also a general breakfast dish. Tapas can be fried shrimp, anchovy sandwiches, grilled meat skewers, olive salad... Every November, Valladolid organizes the World Tapas Championship for chefs from Spanish-speaking countries to show off their skills. On this occasion, more than 40 bars in the city also provide free tapas for diners to enjoy.

The Valladolid International Film Festival was first held in 1956. Initially, only religious films were included in the festival, but the event gradually transformed into a celebration of films with humanistic values. Seminci is an opportunity for independent filmmakers to “launch” their experimental works, and some of Spain’s most famous directors, screenwriters, and actors have grown up in Seminci. Tourists who want to learn about Spanish cinema should attend the Valladolid International Film Festival, held every March.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/co-mot-valladolid-khac-679854.html