Medina del Campo, Spain: travel guide to the Castle of La Mota, Isabella the Catholic and the town of the great fairs

Medina del Campo is a historic town in the province of Valladolid, in Castilla y León, roughly 45 km from the provincial capital. With more than 20,000 inhabitants it is one of the largest towns in the province, and its history is bound up with Queen Isabella the Catholic and with the great medieval trade fairs that once made it one of the principal economic centres of Castile.

For travellers searching for Medina del Campo, the Castle of La Mota, Isabella the Catholic or historic towns near Valladolid, Medina is a standout destination of the Castilian campiña, where porticoed squares and noble palaces recall its powerful past.

History

A town of pre-Roman origin, Medina del Campo reached its peak in the late Middle Ages as the home of celebrated trade fairs that drew merchants from across Europe. It is best remembered as the place where Isabella the Catholic drew up her will and died in 1504; although she is buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada, the court was here at the time. Today the town is nicknamed the city of furniture for its role as a regional reference in furniture manufacturing and trade.

The Castle of La Mota

The spectacular Castle of La Mota is the symbol of Medina del Campo. Unusually for Castilian fortresses it is built in red brick rather than stone. Its construction was ordered in the mid-15th century by Kings John II and Henry IV of Castile, and its artillery barrier was completed under the Catholic Monarchs in 1483. Beyond its military role, the castle served as an archive and a prison, holding several historic figures over the centuries.

Main sights

In the town centre, the Royal Testamentary Palace, where Isabella signed her will and died, now houses an interpretation centre devoted to the queen. The Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad, with its monument to Isabella, the Collegiate Church of San Antolín, the Reales Carnicerías (royal butcheries) commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs and still serving as a market, and the Museum of the Fairs round out a route through one of the key chapters of Castilian history. The Zapardiel river runs through the town.

Practical information

Medina del Campo is easily reached from Valladolid and lies less than two hours from Madrid, making it an ideal day trip for lovers of medieval and Renaissance heritage. A lively Sunday market continues a commercial tradition that is many centuries old.