Medina del Campo, Castillo de la Mota

Medina del CampoMedina del Campo, 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. It knew its splendour during the 15th and 16th C., thanks to the fame of its market (it is the first place in the world to use bills of exchange in commercial transactions), with a large gathering of foreigners, and it experieced its decline with the Civil War of the Communities against Carlos V. The 17th C. Town Hall and the Testamentary Palace, where Isabel la Católica died are placed in the main square, with arcade. Next to the Town Hall is one of the representative buildings of the town, the Collegiate Church of San Antolín, with gothic design. Inside, the plateresque high altarpiece and the chapels and choir, made by Juan de Muniátegui, are noteworthy as well as, outside, its balcony, the 18th C. front and its tower. Other outstanding churches are San Miguel's, with a remarkable altarpiece of the descent of Christ and organ by Manuel Marín, and the Church of Santiago, designed by Fr Bartololé de Bustamente, jesuit architect. Outstanding among the civil buildings, the Palace of los Dueñas, with a beautiful two floor yard with plateresque medallions and a splendid yard, with magnificent mudejar coffered ceiling. Other important civil buildings are the Hospital of Simón Ruiz, founded by the famous banker in the 16th. C., and the Casa Blanca, in the suburbs of Medina. Finally, we shall name the churches of Santa María la Real, Santa Clara, the Convent of La Magdalena, the Convent of San José, second foundation of Santa Teresa de Avila, and, of course, the Castle of La Mota.

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The main event for the medinians is St. Antolin's Festivals, taking place early in September with traditional driving of bulls.These driving of bulls are very famous for having three ways: through the country, with horses, on the streets among fences, and in the bullring with capes. The competition of bull dodging is also very famous.TOURIST OFFICE: Plaza Mayor, 37. Phone: (+34) 983 81 13 57.
CASTILLO DE LA MOTA: Avda. del Castillo, s/n. Phone: (+34) 983 80 10 24.
RAILWAY STATION: Avda. de la Estación, s/n. Phone: (+34) 983 81 06 60.
BUS STATION: Avda. de la Estación, s/n. Phone: (+34) 983 80 05 35.
TAXI: Plaza mayor de la Hispanidad. Phone: (+34) 983 80 10 55.
RED CROSS: San Martín, 16. Phone: (+34) 983 80 47 93.

Castillo de la Mota

Placed on a hill or mota, the present castle is built on 12th C. walls, being built in the 13th., 14th, and 15th C, with important building works made by Enrique IV and the Reyes Católicos in the 115th C. That is the period of construction of the splendid keep, the highest in Castile, and of the outer barbican, of concrete and brick, in a clearly mudejar style. The outer precinct is formed by the barbican that completely surrounds the castle, and could be reached through a drawbridge, today fixed, protected by round towers. Over the entry gate you can see the blazons of the Reyes Católicos ("Catholic Monarchs").

The inner precinct is made by four towers and a squared yard where the different modern rooms that have been built nowadays are laid out.

In this precinct a narrow room covered with polychrome vault called "Queen's vantage point" is kept. The keep is divided into vaulted rooms. Juana la Loca lived in the castle. Later, it was state prison and it kept important political personalities, outstanding among them Caesar Borgia. With time, the ruin of the fortress was getting faster until its restoration in 1939 by the State. Later, it was lent to the Regional Autonomous Government of Castilla y León.