Socioeconomic aspects

The town of Medina del Campo, with its 20,000 inhabitants, has become one of the most important nuclei of population of the Autonomous Community of Castile-Leon. The town has experienced a strong evolution in the last 50 years. Indeed, its population has been increasing faster than the rest of the towns of Castile-Leon (except for the capitals of the provinces). It now represents almost 50% of the population of the canton.

From an economic point of view, farming is the main sector of the canton. The main crops are herbaceous, cereals and, to a lesser extent sunflower. Most of the lands are dry lands. However, viticulture is important too at the north of the town – Appellation of Rueda Origin wines. The main activities of the industrial sector are furniture, metal and food industry. This sector boomed at the end of the 19 th century, with the coming of railway. As for the service sector, is has a special place in the history of Medina , due to the tradition of Fairs. Today, many services are offered in the town such as administrative, private and public ones or trade activities that are all gathered in the historical centre of the town.

Perspectives of development:

The objectives of Medina del Campo for the 21 st century are to confirm its role of dynamic productive centre and to increase its economic activities by, among others, raising the quality of life of its inhabitants. In order to do so, five main fields are concerned:

Infrastructures: developing new economic areas – opening of a new industrial estate for SMEs and developing the industrial area.
Communications: building new facilities for the transportation of goods and passengers as the repairs to the railway system and the coming of the high speed train confirm the position of Medina del Campo as an important railway junction.
Environment: using open spaces, improving water quality, building new facilities, treating water, building a wastewater treatment plant…
Trade innovations: adapting and transforming traditional businesses into modern and innovating businesses thanks to the opening of the first open-air shopping centre of Castile-Leon.
Tourism and Culture: transforming its tourist products according to the actual demand using its history and tradition, its monumental heritage and the influence of rural tourism of Castile-Leon.
Medina del Campo, tourist destination

Today, the Town of Fairs is a much visited place by rural tourists. It has all the assets to become a place of reference concerning rural tourism in Castile-Leon.

The tourist town of Medina del Campo, the Town of Fairs , has five main assets that are:

• Its historical and commercial centre, the Plaza Mayor ( Main Square ), the Royal Testamentary Palace and the Museum of the Fairs.

• The Castle of the Mota, exceptional monument.

• The hydrotherapic establishment of Las Salinas, that offers a different kind of tourism – health tourism – and the Millennium Chapel, which walls are pieces of contemporary art painted by Cristóbal Gabarrón.

• Its cultural events as the “Holy Week” and its “Traditional Encierros ” that have been respectively declared Fiestas of National and Regional Interest.

• The commercial supply such as the furniture trade or the opening of shops every Sundays of the year, the Appellation of Rueda Origin wines or its regional gastronomy.

• Its exceptional geographical situation with its major roads.