What to See in Valladolid - Top Sights and Attractions

Museum. The Museo Nacional de San Gregorio is a museum in Valladolid, Spain, belonging to the Spanish Ministry of Culture. The museum has an extensive collection sculptural ranging from the Middle Ages to the 19th century from Region of Castile's churches that, at 19th-20th c. these were confiscated, and other particular donations, deposits or acquisitions of the state.

The museum was founded as the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts on 4 October 1842. It had its first headquarters at the Palacio de Santa Cruz. On 29 April 1933 it was moved to the Colegio de San Gregorio. Other current seats are in the 16th-century Palacio de Villena and Palacio del Conde de Gondomar

The museum houses works from the 13th to 19th centuries, executed mostly in the Central Spain, and also in other regions historically connected to Spain. Artworks include, among the others, a Raising of the Cross by Francisco del Rincon, I Thirst, and The Way of Calvary Gregorio Fernández, Adoration of the Magi by Alonso Berruguete, Lamentation of Christ by Juan de Juni, Penitent Magdalene by Pedro de Mena or the Holy Sepulchre or passage of the Sleepers Alonso de Rozas.

During the Holy Week in Valladolid the museum gives 104 images to the processions for the brotherhoods.^[1]

Museum in Valladolid, Spain. The Colegio de San Gregorio is an Isabelline style building located in the city of Valladolid, in Castile and León, Spain, it was formerly a college and now is housing the Museo Nacional de Escultura museum. This building is one of the best examples of the architectural style known as Isabelline, which is the characteristic architectural style of the Crown of Castile region during the Catholic Monarchs' reign.

Among other sections highlights its courtyard and its facade for its refined decoration, elegant proportions and the number of symbologies. It was founded as a teaching institution. Aimed at College of Theology for Dominican friars, it has acquired a doctrinal authority and acted as a spiritual and political hotbed in the Central region of Spain's Renaissance and Baroque periods.^[2]

Theater in Valladolid, Spain. The Teatro Calderón de la Barca is a theater in Valladolid, Spain. It is named after the playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca.

The site of the theater was occupied until the mid-nineteenth century by the palace of the Duke of Osuna, Admiral of Castile, which was demolished to make way for the theatre. Jerónimo de la Gándara was the architect. One of the largest theaters in Spain, the facade has an eclectic neo-classical style. The Calderón opened in 1864.

The interior has a horseshoe shape in the Italian style. The paint work, curtains and sets were created by the celebrated decorator Augusto Ferri. The Art Nouveau side lamps date from the early twentieth century. Other rooms were a coffee shop, a library decorated with many paintings, and a banquet room. The magnificent and lavishly decorated building became one of the main theaters in Spain when it opened.

Over the years it experienced ups and downs. Since 1973 the theater has been the permanent home of Seminci, the Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid, or Valladolid International Film Festival. In the 1990s a major renovation was undertaken by the architects Jaime Nadal and Sebastian Araujo, and on 9 April 1999 the theatre was reopened by Queen Sofía of Spain. Since then its stage has been used by several national theater companies, and by both national and international dance companies.^[9]

Palace in Valladolid, Spain. The Palacio de Santa Cruz is an Early-Renaissance palace in Valladolid, in Castile and León, Spain. Construction began in 1486 but in 1490 building came under the control of Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia who finally completed it in 1491.

Founded by Cardinal Mendoza, the college is considered to be the earliest extant building of the Spanish Renaissance. Some observers believe that some of the classical details may have been added to the facade at a later date. One anomaly is the lack of full symmetry of the main facade. Nevertheless, details such as the main doorway are generally accepted as original to Vázquez's design. Confirmation of this impression is the similar doorway on the palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli built to the designs of the architect at Collogudo to the north east of Madrid. The dukes were a branch of the same influential Mendoza family as the cardinal.^[10]

Stadium in Valladolid, Spain. Estadio José Zorrilla is a football stadium in Valladolid, Spain. The capacity of the stadium is 27,846 seats, making it the 22nd-largest stadium in Spain and the largest in Castile and León.

The stadium was built in 1982 and is named after poet José Zorrilla. Prior to this, they played in the old Estadio José Zorrilla.

The first match to be played at the stadium was a Spanish Liga match 20 February 1982 between Real Valladolid and Athletic Bilbao which ended in a 1–0 victory for Valladolid, the only goal being scored in the 84th minute by Jorge Alonso. The 1982 Copa del Rey Final was played at the stadium on 13 April, with Real Madrid defeating Sporting de Gijón 2–1.

During the 1982 FIFA World Cup, three Group D matches (Czechoslovakia-Kuwait, France-Kuwait and France-Czechoslovakia) were played at the Estadio Zorrilla.

Pop Superstar Michael Jackson performed a sold-out show on September 6, 1997 during his HIStory World Tour and concluded his European leg of the tour.

Plans are currently under way to expand the stadium to 40,000 spectators. The project is known as Valladolid Arena.

In 2016, the stadium hosted the Copa del Rey de Rugby final between SilverStorm El Salvador and VRAC Entrepinares. 26,500 spectators attended to the game beating the record of attendance to a rugby union match in Spain.^[11]

Theatre in Valladolid, Spain. The Lope de Vega Theatre is a theatre in Valladolid, Spain, situated on María de Molina street. It was inaugurated in 1861, designed by the architect Jerónimo de la Gándara.

In the seventeenth century the site of the theatre was a patio equipped with a stage for putting on plays and covered boxes for the audience. The patio was covered in the eighteenth century, and the Plaza de la Comedia lasted until 1856, when it was proposed to replace the now-ruinous building with a new theatre. Jerónimo de Gándara was the architect.

The Teatro Lope de Vega was inaugurated on 8 December 1861. The facade, restored in 1920, is in the classical style. It has two levels, each with three arches, and a pediment that holds a medallion with the likeness of Lope de Vega sculpted by Ponciano Ponzano. More recently an iron and glass canopy was added. The theatre was renovated in 1960, reopening as a cinema and theatre, but closed on 30 April 2000.

The Caja Duero, a bank, bought the run-down theatre for seven million euros in April 2006. In March 2007 it was estimated that another seven million euros would be needed to rehabilitate the theatre. Given the high cost, there were delays in getting the project started. In August 2008 the president of the bank confirmed that they had received an offer to buy the theatre and convert it for use as a gaming room. In August 2008 the mayor of Valladollid, Francisco Javier León de la Riva, said he was confident that work would be started to undertake a major restoration for the listed building. The project was sponsored by the Caja Duero and had strong public support.^[16]

Museum in Valladolid, Spain. The Palacio de Fabio Nelli is, according to the critics and historians, the Renaissance building of the most important classical period of the city of Valladolid. According to the architect Antonio Bustamante García, "it's considered this palace the best exponent and work of first row inside the Classicism of the civil architecture of Valladolid". The art critics ensure that had much to do with the result of the work, the good relations and understanding between the sponsor, the banker Fabio Nelli, and the genius and mastery of the author Pedro of Mazuecos El Mozo.

Built in a period in which Valladolid became more decadent, its construction lasted some twenty years, succeeding periods of inactivity in the work and a change of architect due to the death of Juan de la Lastra, the original architect.

Decorated and finished following Italian classicist style, its facade, playground and stairs are the epitome of this type of architecture in Valladolid. After the death of the banker the Palacio had several uses, until in the 20th century it became headquarters of the Valladolid Museum, an institution destined to collect all the archaeological and artistic remains of the province.

The structure is in relatively good condition, awaiting an expansion of the space dedicated to the museum and a restoration of the frontage and the playground of the old palace.^[19]