20 Essentials: what to see in Valladolid province in 1, 2 or 3 days

There are destinations, be it countries, regions or cities, where sometimes you travel without having any preconceived criteria about what you are going to see.

Either you have not heard about the place before, or you have not investigated what its main attractions are.

Nowadays I don't mind arriving at a place without knowing what it is before the trip. attractions I'm going to find myself; The key is to always travel with the desire to discover places and enjoy them.

Now, it really surprises me that this same thing happened to me with the Valladolid province, where in recent times I have had the opportunity to travel several times visiting some of its most notable enclaves.

Yes, I had some reference to someone, but the truth is that living in Madrid, from its surroundings he had only visited in some depth the provinces of Segovia, Guadalajara, or even, Burgos, Ávila o Salamanca.

But really until recently I had not decided to visit any town or monument in the Valladolid province. I don't understand it myself.

What to see and do for tourism in the province of Valladolid

The truth is that on these trips I have found surprising places that make this province a destination that has nothing to envy of many other national or foreign destinations.

Why is the Valladolid province? In fact, as much as the city ​​of Valladolid.

Below I am going to highlight several places that are really worth visiting in one tourism route through the province of Valladolid.

Urueña, Villa del Libro in Valladolid

If you are a regular follower of Travel GuidesYou already know that I love pretty towns with historical roots.

This happens, for example, in Uruena, a town that is located on a hill and is surrounded by a big Wall that you can go through.

From it you have incredible and beautiful views of the great Castilian plain of Farmland; There you will have to verify the verisimilitude of the saying that says how wide is Castilla.

Just 210 kilometers from Madrid, in Uruena you discover why it has the title Book Village, and how culture can permeate a small town like this.

Medina of Rioseco in Valladolid

En Medina of Rioseco You find another charming corner.

Specifically, its main street along which the wooden porticoed galleries, and where you can still see half-timbered houses built with adobe.

Canal de Castilla in Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid)

You should also know that in Medina of Rioseco ends one of the branches of the not sufficiently known Castile Canal, an impressive work of engineering that dates back to the 18th century.

The result was an extensive channel network which covers the provinces of Valladolid, Palencia and Burgos, and which is now ideal for hiking, cycling or even sailing in a canoe or a large recreational boat.

Chapel of the Benavente in Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid)

From an artistic point of view, what will surprise you most in Medina of Rioseco is Benavente Chapel, from the 16th century, called by Eugenio d'Ors la Sistine Chapel of Castilian art, and which you can enjoy in the church of Santa Maria.

Museum of San Francisco in Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid)

Although I don't know why, I was almost more passionate about visiting the San Francisco church, from the end of the 16th century, a building Elizabethan style very elegant, which in its time was a former Franciscan convent.

Now it has become the San Francisco museum where you can see one multimedia presentation which in some way reminded me of the splendid night visit of the Mosque of Córdoba.

Monastery of the Holy Espina in Valladolid

But if what you are looking for is to see a great monastery, In the Valladolid province you also have it: the Monastery of the Holy Thorn.

You find it in the small town of castromonte, and I admit that I was not aware of its existence either, and that despite the fact that it is a great monument whose origins date back to the 12th century.

On the visit of this Cistercian monastery you will see corners from very different periods, from its great neoclassical facade from the 18th century, to the oldest corner of it, a Romanesque chapel with barrel vault.

Nowadays it has become a agricultural training school.

Collegiate Church of Villagarcía de Campos (Valladolid)

And what's more, in this province there is what they call the little Escorial.

This is the Villagarcía de Campos Collegiate Church, from the 16th century, which was built in the style herrerian renaissance under the influence of the basilica of Escorial monastery.

This collegiate church is also an example of Jesuit church, the congregation that runs it.

Castle and Wine Museum in Peñafiel (Valladolid)

Since we are in Castilla, on your getaway through the Valladolid province cannot be missing castles. and in this regard, in a car route through the province of Valladolid you can't stop visit the Peñafiel castle.

It is perhaps the monument What caught my attention the most was in this province, and I tell you that it also seemed much more majestic than I imagined.

With a structure from the 15th century, it currently houses the Peñafiel Wine Museum.

The exhibition of this museum has recently been renovated, and is now dedicated to the wine world in general, not limited to local appellations of origin.

Plaza del Coso in Peñafiel (Valladolid)

Of course in Peñafiel don't forget to go to its famous Coso square, created already in the 15th century for the bullfighting.

The curious configuration of the 48 buildings that surround the square, above which the castle can be seen on the hill, has become the iconic image of Peñafiel.

Tiedra Castle in Valladolid

But in case you don't know, I'll tell you that in Valladolid there is even 18 visitable castlesand Tiedra castle, a small recently restored defensive fortification, which rises above the Castilian plain.

Or the castles of Esgueva Valley, near the capital, the Villafuerte de Esgueva and of Encinas de Esgueva, both residential fortifications.

Romanesque hermitage of Urueña (Valladolid)

In the section rural churches and hermitages, without a doubt you have a great exponent in the charming Romanesque hermitage of the Catalan Lombard style of the aforementioned town of Uruena, a curiosity in the heart of Castilian land.

Mozarabic Church of Wamba (Valladolid)

And in the also lovely Mozarabic church of Wamba You have another curiosity; his ossuary chapel with human remains of more than 1.500 people, whose viewing is not suitable for all audiences.

But what above all should take you to know it is its very interesting interior, in a style very close to the pre-Romanesque.

Mozarabic Church of San Cebrián de Mazote (Valladolid)

Of course, where you will undoubtedly find the best example of mozarabic architecture it is in the church of San Cebrián de Mazote, whose origin is in a Visigoth church from the 7th century, with a 10th century structure with a succession of horseshoe arches inside.

Tiedra astronomical observatory in Valladolid

If you like astronomy, as is my case, in stone you also have the very interesting Tiedra astronomical observatory.

During your visit you will be able to see a multimedia presentation in his little planetary and, of course, use telescopes to observe, for example, the rings of Saturn (impressive!) or star nebulae.

Museum of the Roman Villas of Almenara-Puras (Valladolid)

Another of the great surprises that you can get in a route through the province of Valladolid is undoubtedly the Museum of the Roman Villas of Almenara-Puras what you find near the town of Olmedo.

Now, in the aforementioned Museum of Roman Villas not only can you see the archaeological remains of a large Roman villa, with the impressive mosaics that have been preserved until today.

Also worth highlighting is its very interesting educational area about the world of the Romans.

And, furthermore, a building recreation of a roman villa where you can attend theatrical performances that take you back to the time when the town was inhabited.

Mudejar theme park in Olmedo (Valladolid)

The aforementioned Valladolid town of Olmedo attracts many visitors every year in its cultural events and its curious Mudejar theme park.

You find it in a garden area where you will walk around seeing up to 21 replicas of monuments of Castilla y León built with said architectural style.

Cigales Wine Cathedral (Valladolid)

Another monument that will undoubtedly catch your attention is church of Santiago Apóstol en Cigales, better known as the Cigales Wine Cathedral.

Its construction began in 1535. Above all, what will catch your attention in this great church is its large classical-style portico, combining Roman and Greek.

Wine tourism: Which wineries to visit in the province of Valladolid

Surely you know that Valladolid province she is a famous land of wines, being the Spanish province with the highest number of appellations of origin, five.

Therefore, it is an ideal destination for enjoy wine tourism visiting wineries.

In this regard, here you have extensive information about wineries to visit in Ribera del Duero, specifically, in the famous Golden Mile.

Another wine-growing area is Cigales, on whose visit you will surely be struck by its cave winery neighborhood.

Here you have information about which wineries to visit and what to see in Cigales and surroundings.

And in the Rueda wine area, I would like to highlight the visit to Bodegas Mocén, on whose visit you will be surprised by its network of caves and its great cultural heritage.

Gastronomy: What to eat and where in the province of Valladolid

With a trip through the province of Valladolid you should also taste the typical lamb of this Castilian land.

Well, in a very original and tasty way of preparation, the Traspinedo skewers, in the town of the same name, and where the lamb It is prepared on a skewer and grilled with vine shoots.

Or with its more traditional preparation in the Molino de Palacios Grill, a classic of Peñafiel.

You can also discover in Cantagrullas Cheese Factory that there is another world of flavors beyond traditional castilian sheep cheese, with its French-inspired preparations that have become a reference for some of the most prestigious chefs in Spain.

For its part in the town of Mayorga, in his curious Bread Museum, you will be able to learn about the culture of this popular food in this land where cereals abound.

Where to sleep in the province of Valladolid

Finally, regarding accommodations, of course in the province of Valladolid you find Rural houses.

An example is Field and Fire, which my friend louis boy agriturismo in the small town of Benatarces, or the Mirador del Valle en Villafuerte de Esgueva, places with real charm that I have known on these trips.

But you also have the possibility of staying in what is possibly one of the most exclusive hotels in Spain.

I mean the Abbey Retuerta Le Domaine, hotel located in an ancient and imposing monastery in Sardon del Duero, and where if you stay, you will have the service of an exclusive butler for your room.

What do you feel like doing now? visit Valladolid?