Throughout its nearly one thousand years of history, the city of Valladolid, capital of the autonomous region of Castile and León, prides itself on having been the cultural centre through which writers such as Cervantes, Quevedo, and Zorrilla have passed. Valladolid oozes history from every ancient stone. King Felipe II was born here; the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel, married here; and Christopher Columbus died here. Once capital of Spain, its now the principal city of Castilla y Leon, the land of castles from which the word “Castillian” derives.

Today Valladolid is a bustling university city, home to innovative buildings such as the recently inaugurated Science Museum. Visitors can enjoy strolls along our parks, avenues and pedestrian streets, and find many large shopping centres along with smaller traditional shops. Valladolid has numerous leisure facilities to offer like cinemas, theatres, museums and exhibition centres. In addition its nightlife is reflected in its bars, pubs, beer halls and discotheques, making it a lively yet peaceful and safe city.

Amongst most prominent cultural events are Holy Week, the Local Festivities in honour of Our Lady of San Lorenzo (September 8th) and the Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI), held towards the end of October. One of the main focal points of the city is the University of Valladolid, boasting a history that stretches back over 700 years, filling the streets with life and youthfulness thanks to the 30 000 students who are pursuing their studies in the different faculties.

Our city is the ideal size for international students to easily adapt to and become acquainted with public transport. Valladolid has modern and ecological local buses that connect to all the different districts of the city. In each of these districts, a wide range of shops, bars, banks, and post offices can be found, along with parks and sports facilities like swimming pools, soccer fields, etc.

Not to be overlooked is the magnificent cuisine that students can enjoy in the many restaurants around the city. Typical regional dishes, such as roasts, make perfect combination with our local wines, like the Ribera del Duero, Rueda white wine, or Cigales rosé (all considered to be among the finest in Spain). However, what the people of Valladolid really like is find time with friends to enjoy “tapas” and different dishes in the traditional bars or more modern establishments.

On a final note, we should remark that Valladolid is located in the centre of the region of Castile and León, just two hours drive from Madrid and even less, 55 minutes, by travelling on the new high speed train AVE.

It is also easy to travel from Valladolid by bus, train, and even plane, since Valladolid’s airport,“Villanubla Airport”, offers direct flights to Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Gran Canaria, Málaga, Palma de Mayorca and European cities like Paris, London, Brussels and Milan.

Plano de Valladolid

Enlaces de interés:

www.asomateavalladolid.com
www.turismocastillayleon.com
Ayuntamiento de Valladolid

THE REGION. CASTILE AND LEÓN

The Castilian language was born in the north of Castile and León eleven centuries ago, rapidly developing into a widely used language for communication. Some of the earliest universities in Europe were founded in Castile and León, and the region evolved into a well of knowledge, becoming a major stage for classical Spanish literature.

The Community of Castile and León is made up of nine provinces: Avila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora, covering almost a fifth of the whole country. Located on the northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, it has a population of 2.7 million inhabitants and covers some 95 000 Km2, making it the largest region not only in Spain but also in the whole European Union.

More than any other region Castile and León provides that key element which provides full immersion in the origins and richness of the Hispanic culture. It is a reference point around the world for learning Spanish as a foreign language and in addition to the educational and cultural aspects, it can offer landscape and leisure facilities that make learning Spanish not only a positive but also an enjoyable experience.

Three of our cities have been listed as World Heritage Sites and there are over two thousand castles and fortresses dotted around its landscape. Three thousand palaces and noble mansions bear witness to its key role in history and there are more than ten thousand churches which reflect the very best that Spain has to offer in religious painting and sculpture.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of a visit to any of the cities in Castile and León is the size of the cities themselves, as they are pleasant, safe to live in, and built around historical centres, providing the ideal environment to stroll through streets steeped in history. Yet, they are also lively streets, offering an attractive lifestyle to be enjoyed both during the day and at night.