Valladolid, a city on the river Pisuerga, has been the setting for a number of important events over the centuries, as a former capital of Spain and seat of the Court. The city has always been linked to royal names and it was the venue for the marriage of the Catholic Kings.

Valladolid is also linked to Christopher Columbus who was a key figure in the Discovery of America and the introduction of the Spanish language into that continent.

The city’s rich cultural past and present can be felt throughout Valladolid, it is latent in its historical university and in the works of many great writers born in this land, writers such as José Zorrilla the author of “Don Juan Tenorio”, or Rosa Chacel, José Jiménez Lozano, Miguel Delibes, Jorge Guillén, Francisco Umbral... Miguel de Cervantes himself lived in Valladolid during his most productive years and many of the city’s corners, streets, squares, palaces and large houses are present in his works, places which are still recognisable today.

[ COURT AND KINGS ] Centre of power and royalty	[ COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD ] Thanks to him the Castilian language is spoken in Spanish America	[ UNIVERSITY ] The university undertook considerable work to refine the Spanish language.
[PLAZA MAYOR SQUARE] The first regular-shaped main square in Spain	[ PALACES AND HERITAGE ] Edificios emblemáticos testigos de la historia de la ciudad.	[THE TRACE OF THE SPANISH LANGUAGE] · Cervantes · Zorrilla · Delibes