TOUR DESCRIPTION
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
For centuries Medina del Campo could have been compared to Wall Street in Castile. From the 15th until the 18th century, silks, silver, jewellery… the most valuable products and art masterpieces were marketed at the local fairs. It was also at these fairs that bills of exchange and other payment and credit tools were firstly used in Spain.
The town is also closely related to queen Isabella the Catholic: she used to visit Medina, here she made her will and died.
DESCRIPTION
The monumental heritage of Medina is certainly remarkable, as a consequence of its lasting historic and economic importance in Castile.
Our visit starts at the Royal Butchers’ market, founded by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, and then transformed in Renaissance style one century later.
It is an elongated one-storey building whose naves are separated by brick arches on stone columns, with a wooden ceiling. The building continues to operate as a market nowadays. It houses some bars and shops too.
Next to the Butchers’ market runs Zapardiel river. That’s saying, because it doesn’t usually carry water. It is a typical river of the Castilian plateau, certainly long but with a small flow. On the other side of “Cadenas” (chains) bridge lies Saint Michael’s church and further to the right, “la Mota” castle, the town’s landmark.
Settled in an area of old palaces and noble houses, the Museum of the Fairs is your next stop. It houses a collection of art masterpieces and is, in addition, the best way to learn about the wealthy historic past of Medina. The museum is located in the former church of San Martin, whose outstanding wooden ceiling has been preserved. Among the works on display, several Gothic and Renaissance paintings and sculptures (namely, a Pieta by Juan de Juni) stand out. Besides, the museum gathers a series of curious tools and documents related to the town’s fairs.
The large Main square (Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad) is surrounded by arcades. This was the central area of the historic fairs and markets, along with the closest streets.
The name of each side of the square is related to the goods that were usually sold here: arms, jewels, spices…
The collegiate church, the town hall, the “Casa de los Arcos” (house of the arches) and the Royal Testamentary Palace surround the square. The latter was the place where queen Isabella made her will and died in 1504.
Your next visit is San Antolin collegiate church. Before entering, you may appreciate its emblematic bell tower, displaying a couple of statues, the so-called “maragatos” (traditional peasants from Leon) that strike the hours. On the façade the Virgin of Populo balcony stands out. From here the mass used to be celebrated for the many merchants standing on the square.
The church has a hall structure, covered with late-Gothic star-shaped ribbed vaults. The main chapel’s Renaissance altarpiece is overwhelming, not to mention the large baroque Angustias chapel, whose dome is fully decorated with plasterwork filigrees. This chapel also houses a delicate Virgin and Child by the Spanish baroque master Alonso Cano.
Santa Teresa street keeps an attractive historic atmosphere thanks to the well preserved buildings on both of its sides: Dueñas palace (a high-school today) with a rich Renaissance courtyard; San José convent, the second foundation by Saint Theresa (after the one in Avila); the Augustinian convent of Saint Mary Magdalene and, at the end of the street, Saint Peter’s church, a former Jesuit college, with valuable Renaissance and Classicist altarpieces.
The tour ends at La Mota castle. La Mota was the town’s original Medieval setting, around the castle. You are advised to reach it by car.
The first fortress had to be adapted to the new ways of warfare -the artillery attacks- in the late 15th century.
The castle is structured around a central courtyard with towers at the corners, including the awesome 40-metre-high keep. Surrounding that central building lies a range of battlements with loopholes and arrow slits surrounded by a deep wide moat.
For centuries the castle had been a state prison. Among other historic figures, Cesar Borgia and Hernando Pizarro were imprisoned here.
Some of the original walls, made in boulders and mortar, remain in place. The current building is, however, an outstanding example of Mudejar art (Medieval Spanish style influenced by Islamic architecture and decoration).
The whole fortress was made in brick excepting the stone frames and some Mudejar decorative motifs, such as the wooden ceilings and plasterwork filigrees.
Our tour includes a visit to the castle’s inner courtyard, the exhibition hall and chapel.
DURATION
- 3h
- 5h, combined with one of the following historic towns around Medina: Tordesillas, Olmedo, Arevalo or Madrigal de las Altas Torres.
In this experience...
What will we do |
|
More details | Impressive Medieval castle and Renaissance buildings |
Includes | Guided tour of the castle, collegiate church and the Museum of the Fairs |
Prepare yourself...
TIPS
For those having a sweet tooth, Medina is associated with “cocadas” (coconut cakes), as well as to the sweets made by the Poor Clares, whose monastery is set in the outskirts, on the road to Olmedo.
Being in the land of Rueda wine, take the opportunity to taste it and / or buy it. Verdejo is the iconic grape of this area. Thanks to modern techniques, verdejo produces fresh and fruity whites, especially the single-varietal ones.
DID YOU KNOW?
Due to its historical fair tradition, all shops are closed here on Thursday, whereas if you visit the town on Sunday, you will find everything in full swing, including the Royal Butchers’ market.
The word “mota”, given to the castle, means a hillock: a hill that dominates the town to the east, on the other side of the river. “Mota” is a common word in the repopulated areas during the Christian Reconquest: Mota del Marqués, Mota del Cuervo… or the castles “de la Mota” in Benavente (with the “Caracol” (snail) tower) and Alcalá la Real (Andalusia).
Many Spanish towns boast to have a “collegiate church”, a great size temple, well economically endowed. Even if the name has been traditionally maintained, most of the Spanish collegiate churches disappeared in the mid-19th century, as a consequence of the first Concordat with the Holy See. Many of them were in dire straits at the time, due to insufficient funding.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of the railway time triggered off a new period of local splendour. Las Salinas thermal hotel was founded, at a short distance south of Medina. It is a neo-Renaissance building, inspired by the Magdalena palace in Santander. After many ups and downs, the hotel is operating back and provides a spa circuit on appointment.
Meeting point | |
Important information | The entrance fee to the monuments is not included in the visit. This is a generic proposal for groups, which we can adapt to your interest and needs We recommend Wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is advised |
BOOK YOUR TOUR
This activity requires a prior booking. Please complete the following form. As soon as the availability is checked, we will confirm your booking and inform about the payment proceedings.
Additional information
Duration | 3h |
---|---|
Location | Medina del Campo |
TOUR DESCRIPTION
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
For centuries Medina del Campo could have been compared to Wall Street in Castile. From the 15th until the 18th century, silks, silver, jewellery… the most valuable products and art masterpieces were marketed at the local fairs. It was also at these fairs that bills of exchange and other payment and credit tools were firstly used in Spain.
The town is also closely related to queen Isabella the Catholic: she used to visit Medina, here she made her will and died.
DESCRIPTION
The monumental heritage of Medina is certainly remarkable, as a consequence of its lasting historic and economic importance in Castile.
Our visit starts at the Royal Butchers’ market, founded by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, and then transformed in Renaissance style one century later.
It is an elongated one-storey building whose naves are separated by brick arches on stone columns, with a wooden ceiling. The building continues to operate as a market nowadays. It houses some bars and shops too.
Next to the Butchers’ market runs Zapardiel river. That’s saying, because it doesn’t usually carry water. It is a typical river of the Castilian plateau, certainly long but with a small flow. On the other side of “Cadenas” (chains) bridge lies Saint Michael’s church and further to the right, “la Mota” castle, the town’s landmark.
Settled in an area of old palaces and noble houses, the Museum of the Fairs is your next stop. It houses a collection of art masterpieces and is, in addition, the best way to learn about the wealthy historic past of Medina. The museum is located in the former church of San Martin, whose outstanding wooden ceiling has been preserved. Among the works on display, several Gothic and Renaissance paintings and sculptures (namely, a Pieta by Juan de Juni) stand out. Besides, the museum gathers a series of curious tools and documents related to the town’s fairs.
The large Main square (Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad) is surrounded by arcades. This was the central area of the historic fairs and markets, along with the closest streets.
The name of each side of the square is related to the goods that were usually sold here: arms, jewels, spices…
The collegiate church, the town hall, the “Casa de los Arcos” (house of the arches) and the Royal Testamentary Palace surround the square. The latter was the place where queen Isabella made her will and died in 1504.
Your next visit is San Antolin collegiate church. Before entering, you may appreciate its emblematic bell tower, displaying a couple of statues, the so-called “maragatos” (traditional peasants from Leon) that strike the hours. On the façade the Virgin of Populo balcony stands out. From here the mass used to be celebrated for the many merchants standing on the square.
The church has a hall structure, covered with late-Gothic star-shaped ribbed vaults. The main chapel’s Renaissance altarpiece is overwhelming, not to mention the large baroque Angustias chapel, whose dome is fully decorated with plasterwork filigrees. This chapel also houses a delicate Virgin and Child by the Spanish baroque master Alonso Cano.
Santa Teresa street keeps an attractive historic atmosphere thanks to the well preserved buildings on both of its sides: Dueñas palace (a high-school today) with a rich Renaissance courtyard; San José convent, the second foundation by Saint Theresa (after the one in Avila); the Augustinian convent of Saint Mary Magdalene and, at the end of the street, Saint Peter’s church, a former Jesuit college, with valuable Renaissance and Classicist altarpieces.
The tour ends at La Mota castle. La Mota was the town’s original Medieval setting, around the castle. You are advised to reach it by car.
The first fortress had to be adapted to the new ways of warfare -the artillery attacks- in the late 15th century.
The castle is structured around a central courtyard with towers at the corners, including the awesome 40-metre-high keep. Surrounding that central building lies a range of battlements with loopholes and arrow slits surrounded by a deep wide moat.
For centuries the castle had been a state prison. Among other historic figures, Cesar Borgia and Hernando Pizarro were imprisoned here.
Some of the original walls, made in boulders and mortar, remain in place. The current building is, however, an outstanding example of Mudejar art (Medieval Spanish style influenced by Islamic architecture and decoration).
The whole fortress was made in brick excepting the stone frames and some Mudejar decorative motifs, such as the wooden ceilings and plasterwork filigrees.
Our tour includes a visit to the castle’s inner courtyard, the exhibition hall and chapel.
DURATION
- 3h
- 5h, combined with one of the following historic towns around Medina: Tordesillas, Olmedo, Arevalo or Madrigal de las Altas Torres.
In this experience...
What will we do |
|
More details | Impressive Medieval castle and Renaissance buildings |
Includes | Guided tour of the castle, collegiate church and the Museum of the Fairs |
Prepare yourself...
TIPS
For those having a sweet tooth, Medina is associated with “cocadas” (coconut cakes), as well as to the sweets made by the Poor Clares, whose monastery is set in the outskirts, on the road to Olmedo.
Being in the land of Rueda wine, take the opportunity to taste it and / or buy it. Verdejo is the iconic grape of this area. Thanks to modern techniques, verdejo produces fresh and fruity whites, especially the single-varietal ones.
DID YOU KNOW?
Due to its historical fair tradition, all shops are closed here on Thursday, whereas if you visit the town on Sunday, you will find everything in full swing, including the Royal Butchers’ market.
The word “mota”, given to the castle, means a hillock: a hill that dominates the town to the east, on the other side of the river. “Mota” is a common word in the repopulated areas during the Christian Reconquest: Mota del Marqués, Mota del Cuervo… or the castles “de la Mota” in Benavente (with the “Caracol” (snail) tower) and Alcalá la Real (Andalusia).
Many Spanish towns boast to have a “collegiate church”, a great size temple, well economically endowed. Even if the name has been traditionally maintained, most of the Spanish collegiate churches disappeared in the mid-19th century, as a consequence of the first Concordat with the Holy See. Many of them were in dire straits at the time, due to insufficient funding.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of the railway time triggered off a new period of local splendour. Las Salinas thermal hotel was founded, at a short distance south of Medina. It is a neo-Renaissance building, inspired by the Magdalena palace in Santander. After many ups and downs, the hotel is operating back and provides a spa circuit on appointment.
Meeting point | |
Important information | The entrance fee to the monuments is not included in the visit. This is a generic proposal for groups, which we can adapt to your interest and needs We recommend Wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is advised |
BOOK YOUR TOUR
This activity requires a prior booking. Please complete the following form. As soon as the availability is checked, we will confirm your booking and inform about the payment proceedings.
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