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Valladolid,
in the
heart
of
Castilla
y Leon
was
given
it's
first
proper
name
by the
Moors.
They
called
it
Belad
Ulid,
or
Walid.
After
numerous
battles
and
arguments
among
the
Royal
family
over
who
owned,
or
wanted
the
town,
in
1074
Alfonso
VI
gave
the
town
to the
Count
Pedro
Ansurez
who
immediately
had
two
churches
built.
He
also
built
a
bridge
over
the
Rio
Pisuerga.
Two
hospitals
were
constructed
along
with
many
other
important
buildings.
His
effect
on the
town
was so
great
that
by
1208
it was
affluent
enough
to
attract
Royal
attention
and
Alfonso
VIII
ejected
the
Count's
descendants
and
stole
the
town
back.
The
town
received
another
boost
in
1346
when
the
university
gained
formal
recognition.
By the
year
1469,
Valladolid
was
such
an
important
place
that
the
Catholic
Monarchs,
Isabella
of
Castille
and
Ferdinand
of
Aragon
were
married
there.
Towards
the
end of
the
16th
century,
Valladolid
acquired
a
cathedral,
although
it was
never
finished.
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Valladolid
province
now
spreads
across
the
great
plain
of the
River
Duero
which
races
through
the
middle.
Above
the
river
is the
´Granary
of
Spain`
an
important
grain
producing
area.
Whilst
the
province
has
much
to
offer
the
visitor
in the
form
of
open
landscape,
most
of the
province's
activity
is
centred
around
the
capital.
Valladolid
is a
wonderful
place
to
visit,
especially
during
the
important
film
festival,
founded
in
1956
and no
doubt
playing
a
major
role
in the
attraction
of the
massive
student
population
present
in the
town
of
today.
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