Medina del Campo
(most of this page and its links have been taken
from the web page of
the congress WAGP, held in Medina in 1997)
(I hope most of the data are still valid, but I cannot guarantee
it, if you find something wrong, something like a phone number that doesn't
work, go to the contact address, send me a mail and I will look for the
updated information for you)
Medina del Campo, a town with a population of twenty thousand people,
is the most prominent locality in the province
of Valladolid after the capital itself.
The earliest remains of settlements date back to the Iron Age. The oldest
documentary evidence of Medina appears in 1107.
International recognition came with the trade fairs. It is the first place
in the world to use bills of exchange in commercial transactions. A suspension
of payments decreed by the state in 1596 put an end to all trading activities.
Isabella I ruled Castle from this town for a long period of time. She died
in the Royal Palace of Medina. In 1492 an accidental fire burnt down 260
buildings; another fire caused by the troops of Charles I burnt to ashes
900 dwellings.
The old area of the town was declared listed building in 1991.
PATRIMONY:
The most prominent monument in Medina del Campo is the Castle
of la Mota. Built in 1440 by John I, in mudejar style, was designed
by Ferdinand Carreño and Alonso Niño. It was a royal residential
palace, then prison of the Kingdom. In 1904 it was declared a listed building.
We can also metion the Main Square of the "Hispanidad"
with the some remains of the Royal Palace, The
Dueñas Palace, the Simón Ruiz
Hospital, the Church of Santiago , the
Church of Saint Michael and the Salinas
Spa. The Church of San Antolín was granted the state
of Collegiate Church in 1430 by order of Pope Sixtus IV. It is a late gothic
building whose construction began in 1502 and lasted for over 100 years.
Other monuments are:
The church of Saint Mary Magdalene, dating from the 16th century;
it conserves an extraordinary collection of frescoes executed by Luis de
Vélez.
Saint Claire, the oldest convent in the town, founded in the XlIth
century.
Saint Mary the Royal, a convent of Royal Dominicans that was built
between XIV and XVI centuries. The gothic-renaissance church has a spectacular
mudejar coffered ceiling.
The Royal Butcher's renaissance building from the 16th century.
The White-House, a country house whose central patio has some stunning
XVI century plasterwork.
LEISURE TIME:
Diverse cultural activities take place in Medina del Campo throughout
the year: in May the Cinema festival Villa de Medina; between August
and September, an outstanding Philatelic Exhibition; in August, the open-air
theatre Festival; in November and December the International week of
Music offers concerts.
Medina also offers sport and entertainment facilities.
The main event for the medinians is St. Antolin's Festivals, taking place
early in September with colourful bull fightings. Medina's Holy Week has
been declared a Regional Tourist Event in 1993, and sports the oldest penitential
procession in Spain.
TOURIST OFFICE:
Plaza Mayor, 37. Phone: +34 983 81 13 57