Valladolid

Valladolid, also called Pucela, is a city in Spain. It is the main city for the government of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the province of Valladolid. As of 2024, about 300,000 people live there, making it the biggest city in the area.

The city is in the middle of the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula's Meseta Central. The Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers meet there before flowing into the Duero. The land around it is good for growing wine.

Valladolid has a long history. Long ago, the Vaccaei lived in this area. The city was founded after 1072 and grew important under the Crown of Castile. For a short time, from 1601 to 1606, it was even the capital of the Hispanic Monarchy. In the 1800s, better roads and transport helped the city grow. Later, it became a place where automotive industry companies operated.

Every year, Valladolid holds many events. These include the famous Holy Week, the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championships, and the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci). In 2019, UNESCO named it a City of Film. The city and the areas around it are home to about 400,000 people.

Name

The city of Valladolid has had 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 known to live in the middle valley of the River Duero.

Remains of Celtiberian and Roman camps have been found near the city. The city began 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.

From 1554 to 1559, Joanna of Austria, sister of Philip II, ruled for him from Valladolid, making it an important political place.

In 1550–1551 the town had an important discussion in Europe about treating local people.

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.

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.

In the 1980s, Valladolid wanted to be the main city when the area of Castile and León was being created. Valladolid became the main place for government in 1987.

On 25 June 2024, a church built in 1581 fell apart during renovation.

Jewish History

The first record of Jewish people in Valladolid is from 1221.

In the early 1400s, new rules took away the rights of Jewish people in Valladolid. By the 1500s, there were no Jewish people left in Valladolid after they were forced to leave Spain.

Geography

Valladolid is 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, an important tributary of the Douro river.

The city also includes two separate pieces of land: Navabuena, which is large and holds a prison, and El Rebollar, a smaller area.

Climate

Valladolid has a continentalized hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it can get 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 of rain each year.

Administration

Valladolid is a municipality, the basic local administrative unit in Spain. The Ayuntamiento de Valladolid governs the city. It has 27 elected councillors who choose the mayor. The last election was on May 26, 2019. Óscar Puente from the PSOE has been the mayor since 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.

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. 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 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 started, first run by private companies and later by the city. 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 in Valladolid. The city is famous because Miguel de Cervantes lived there. He 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.

Valladolid also hosts an important film festival called Seminci.

The local food in Valladolid is special. Even though it is far from the sea, fish like 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 a football club called Real Valladolid, also known as Pucela. They play in Spain's second-highest league, called LaLiga Hypermotion. Some players have gone on to play for the Spain national football team, like Fernando Hierro, José Luis Caminero, and Rubén Baraja. They play at Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla, a stadium built for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

The city also has a basketball team, Real Valladolid Baloncesto. Some famous players once played for an older team. The basketball games are at Polideportivo Pisuerga.

Rugby is popular in Valladolid, with strong teams, VRAC and CR El Salvador. They play at Estadio Pepe Rojo.

The city has a large bullring called Plaza de toros de Valladolid, which opened in 1890.

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.