Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Peñafiel
Peñafiel is a town in the province of Valladolid, 56 km from the provincial capital.
The municipal district of Peñafiel includes the town of Peñafiel, as well as the surrounding villages of Aldeayuso, Mélida and Padilla de Duero. This ancient town is also the administrative centre of the Campo de Peñafiel region, which includes the Cuco Valley, the Vega de Pajates, Botijas, Duero and Duratón.
The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the remains of various Vaccean settlements found in the region, some of which date back to 2,900 BC.
The historic village was repopulated in the year 912 as part of the foundation and repopulation of the ancient villages of the Duero Valley. At the beginning of the 11th century, these territories were reconquered. By the end of the century, Peñafiel had become part of the County of Castile.
From the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, this estate was owned by Don Juan Manuel, a nobleman, duke and prince of Villena. In 1256, King Alfonso X of Castile granted the Royal Charter to Peñafiel.
It is worth noting that the year 1895 saw the inauguration of the Valladolid-Ariza railway line. This was a significant boost to the local economy. The town of Peñafiel became the nerve centre of the region, acting as a hub for the distribution of products from the Esgueva Valley, Cantalejo and the Churrería, as well as those from the traditional mills that populated the course of the Duratón River.
The municipality's military architecture is notable for the castle of Peñafiel, which has been designated an Asset of Cultural Interest. The medieval fortification was constructed between the 9th and 10th centuries and subsequently rebuilt at the behest of Don Juan Manuel. The building currently houses the Provincial Wine Museum of Valladolid.
Currently, Peñafiel only preserves two of the 18 historical parishes that the municipality once had. The parish church of San Miguel de Reoyo, constructed in the 16th century in the Herrerian style using masonry, is a notable example of Spanish architecture. The parish church of Santa María de Mediavilla, constructed in the Gothic style in the 15th century, currently houses the Regional Museum of Sacred Art.
The city also boasts the Church and Convent of San Pablo, constructed in the 14th century in Gothic-Mudejar style, and the Church and Convent of Santa Clara, which was built in Baroque style with a centralised floor plan in the shape of an elongated octagon.
The town centre is bordered by two notable landmarks: the chapel of Santísimo Cristo del Humilladero, dating back to the 19th century, and the chapel of San Roque de Valdobar.
The local festivities take place between 14 and 18 August. These festivities are held in honour of Our Lady and San Roque.
It is also worth noting the Peñafiel medieval market and the "Riberjoven", a wine tasting event held in conjunction with the "Fiesta de la Vendimia" (Grape Harvest Festival).