MONUMENTS AND CULTURAL INTEREST (ROUTES)

Medina del Campo is known for its Fairs all over Europe . In the 15 th and 16 th centuries, the fairs brought a lot of wealth into the town and such wealth allowed the building of beautiful religious and civil monuments that have contributed to make Medina one of the most well-known places in Spain for its historical and artistic heritage.

Many buildings have been destroyed throughout the centuries, such as great walls, gates, some palaces, many churches, convents, monasteries etc. However, part of the magnificent architectural past of the town can still be seen.

The old part of the town became a “listed historical complex” in 1991.

Route 1

PALACIO DEL ALMIRANTE (Palace of the Admiral)

In the 16 th century, the building belonged to the Enríquez, the admirals of Castilla. The palace became the property of the marquisate of Tejada in the middle of the 18 th century. The building has been largely modified by the marquisate and the only original parts that remain are the tower, and the two gates of the garden, built in 1753.

CONVENT OF CARMELITE FATHERS

The church is under the invocation of the Immaculate Conception. Its ground floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and some interesting paintings and sculptures of the 17 th and 18 th centuries can be admired inside. Outside, in the middle of the square, stands the monument of St John of the Cross.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 pm
Public holiday: 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

MUSEUM OF THE FAIRS FOUNDATION

The Museum is in the old Church of San Martín (16 th century). Since 2000, it has retained the most important inheritance of the fairs in Spain . The Museum shows the influence of the trade activities on economy, culture and arts in society. The exposition follows the logic of the world of the international fairs that took place in Medina during the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Across the street, there is the Palace of Los Quintanilla , a building of the 16 th century that will become part of the museum once it will be renovated.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sunday and public holidays: 11.00 am – 2:00 pm.
Entrance fees: 2€ – Groups: 1€

PALACE OF FALCES

The Palace of the marquis of Falces is a building –now turned into the community arts centre – that dates back to the 16 th century. Its façade is made of dressed stones and it has a patio of two levels with two porches as well. It was a school for the congregation of the Daughter of Jesus during the 20 th century.

INTEGRATED CULTURAL CENTRE ISABELLA THE CATHOLIC

It is a good example of a combination of architecture of the 17th century and a contemporary building. The walls and the arches of an old Franciscan convent merge with the strait lines of the new building of 2003. It is a place of reference of the cultural life of the town.

PALACE OF THE DUEÑAS

It was built to be the place of residence of Diego de Beltrán between 1528 and 1543. To design it, the architect Luis de Vega drew his inspiration from the Renaissance trends that were already merging in Castile at the time. The ground floor plan of the church is in the shape of a square and there is a turret above one of its corner. In the entrance, there is a magnificent coffered ceiling. Then, there is a rectangular patio with two levels where you can admire different stone sculptures. It was listed as Artistic Ancient Monument in 1931 and it's been used as a centre of education since 1950.

CONVENT OF SANTA MARÍA MAGDALENA

It was created in 1552 as an Augustine Foundation to cater for young people in difficulties and to supply basic education to the children of poor families. In the transept of the church, there is an exceptional Calvary of Esteban Jordán.

Opening hours (church):
Every day: 8:00 pm.

CONVENT OF SAN JOSÉ

It was the first Foundation of barefoot Carmelite created outside of Ávila. The building of the church ended in 1603. Some of Santa Teresa's relics and personal effects are exhibited in a museum-room.

Opening hours (church):
Sundays: 11:00 am.
Between Eastern and all Saints: everyday at 8:30 am.

CHURCH OF SANTIAGO

It is a temple of Jesuit style, built in the middle of the 16 th century with one nave and several side chapels, including one reliquary chapel of the 17 th century. It is one of the richest parishes of Medina , artistically speaking.

Opening hours:
In summer: Every day: 7:30 pm
In winter: Every day: 6:30 pm
Public holidays: 11:30 am, 6:00 pm.



Route 2

PLAZA MAYOR DE LA HISPANIDAD (MAIN SQUARE OF THE HISPANIDAD)

It is a huge rectangular square where the fairs used to take place in the 15th and 16th centuries – several plaques on the ground indicate the sites of each corporate body. The three traditional powers are represented on the square through the main buildings that are the Church, the Monarchy and the Council.

COLEGIATA CHURCH OF SAN ANTOLÍN

It is a church with the size of a cathedral that was built between the 16 th and the 18 th century. It kept the title of Collegiate from 1480 to 1855. The balcón de la Virgen del Pópulo (the Balcony of the Virgin of the people) is on the façade of the church; the masses were celebrated from this balcony on market days. The bell at the top of the tower still works and two figures, called the “Maragatos”, are in charge of ringing the bell every hour. The three naves inside are in a late-Gothic style, with several chapels, and among them, the one of Las Angustinas is particularly beautiful.



CASA CONSISTORIAL (TOWN HALL)

In the middle of the 17t century, the town council decided to move the town hall from the bank of the river to the main square. Francisco Cillero and Mateo Martín were in charge of the work of the actual building. The façade is symmetrical, made of granite dressed stones and with two long balconies, one on each level.

ROYAL TESTAMENTARY PALACE OF ISABELLA THE CATHOLIC

Many historical events have taken place in the palace but the most important facts to remember are that Queen Isabella made her will in one of the rooms of this palace and also that she died there, on 26 th of November of 1504. The building of the palace started in the middle of the 13 th century. In 2004, to commemorate the five hundredth anniversary of Isabel's death, the palace was transformed into a graphic museum, the “ Palacio Real Testamentario de Isabel la Católica ” . The museum also includes the next door building, known as the “Casa de los Arcos” that dates back to the 17 th century.

Opening hours:
Closed on Thursday.
Monday- Saturday:
1 October – 31 March: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
1 April – 30 September: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Sunday and public holidays: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.



Route 3

REALES CARNICERÍAS (Royal butcheries)

The Catholic Kings signed a certificate ordering the building of the butcheries in 1550. They were actually built during the reign of Felipe II, in order to sell meat products to the people. It follows a typology and a chronology that nearly does not exist in Spain anymore. Furthermore, it is the only one that has kept its initial function of market – every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of the year.

SAN MIGUEL CHURCH

It was constructed in the 18 th century. The ground floor plan of the church is rectangular, with two naves. The main chapel, of big dimensions, is covered with an ogival vault. In the chapel there is an interesting altarpiece of Leonardo de Carrión, made in 1567.

SANTO TOMÁS CHURCH

Though some relics of the 12 th century remain, the present building, half Gothic, half Herrerian, is of the 16 th century. Some sculptures by Francisco de Rincón can be admired in the main altarpiece. The bodies of some soldiers that distinguished themselves during the New Spain are buried in the temple. They are the bodies of Francisco Bracamonte, Melchor de Torralba and Juan Gutiérrez.

Must see A

VILLA DE LAS FERIAS PARK

This unique open space has been designed by Cristóbal Gabarrón. It has been built in homage to the fairs of the 15 th and 16 th centuries. It is a place that successfully combines historical past with usefulness and art. A cycle track links the park to the Museum La Capilla del Milenio, which is the other work of art of Gabarrón in Medina .

MUSEUM LA CAPILLA DEL MILENIO (MILLENNIUM CHAPEL)

At the request of the UNESCO Cristóbal Gabarrón has retranscribed the spirit of the Summit of the Millennium of 2000 on the internal walls of the ancient chapel of the Palace-Spa of Las Salinas. Through 5,000 square feet of mural, the artist represents an allegory of the values extolled by the United Nations such as peace, solidarity, freedom, tolerance, equality, nature and education.

Information:
Call 983 837 135

Entrance fees:
Individual: 3€
Groups: 2.50€

Must see B

Castle of La Mota

The first city centre has grown around the Castle of la Mota. The repopulation of the town and the trade activity have made the inhabitants move to the river to establish themselves and leave the fortified hill. The Castle was the Archives of the crown during the reigns of Enrique IV and Carlos I. It had a military function as well and, at the same time, it was prison of the State. The building of the Castle lasted from the 12 th to the 15 th century. It is in the shape of a trapezoid. It is made of two great walls - one outside and one inside – and a wide parade ground. The keep, with five floors, is 130 ft high. The Chapel of Santa María del Castillo is on the ground floor. Inside of it, there are some interesting works of art such as the Hispano-Flemish triptych and a beautiful ivory crucifix of the 17 th century. A large-scale copy of a map of 1500, by Juan de la Cosa can be seen in another room.

Some important renovation and reconstruction works were done during the first half of the 20 th century to make the castle look like new. In 1942, it was used as a Training School for the Feminine Section and since 1984 it has come under the control of the Autonomous Community of Castilla y Leon. It is the first building of Medina that has been declared “National heritage Site”.

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
(6:00 pm in winter)
Sunday and public holidays: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Information: 983 801 024

Must see C

SÍMON RUIZ GENERAL HOSPITAL

The banker Simón Ruiz financed the building of a “general hospital” to treat the sick at the end of the 16 th century. To do so, he joined the ancient hospital of the Purísima Conception to the San Diego de Alcalá. The façade is symmetrical with a herrerian style. The ground floor plan of the church is in the shape of a Latin cross. It has kept some exceptional works of art by Pedro de la Cuadra and Francisco Rincón. The aspect of the building has not changed much since the day it was built, four centuries ago.

Opening Hours (Church):
Every day: 8:30 pm (7:30 pm in winter)
Public holidays: 12:30 pm.