Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Tudela de Duero
Tudela de Duero is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, 16 km from the provincial capital, and belongs to the region of Tierra de Pinares.
The name is thought to derive from an ancient Roman villa, Tela, which was constructed in the area. In the Middle Ages, the name was changed to Tudela.
Furthermore, this town is known as "la alegre del Duero" or "the oasis of Castile" in honour of the impressive natural landscape that surrounds the municipality, which includes numerous springs, orchards and groves.
Tudela is one of the oldest towns in the province of Valladolid. The city's origins date back to the Neolithic period, between 4,000 and 2,600 BC. It was a privileged settlement, with great strategic advantages. The municipality's archaeological record provides clear evidence of this, with the discovery of pottery from the Stone Age and pre-Roman and Roman eras.
During the period of Arab domination, a castle known as the Castillo de las Mámbulas was constructed. However, there are no remaining traces of this structure today.
In the 13th century, the construction of the city walls began during the reign of Alfonso X of Castile, transforming Tudela del Duero into a formidable defensive line between the Christian and Muslim kingdoms. The town suffered a series of natural disasters and epidemics between the 17th and 18th centuries, which marked the beginning of its decline.
The town's monuments include the 16th-century Gothic-Renaissance style Parish Church of Asunción de Nuestra Señora. The church comprises three naves, covered with ribbed vaults with terceletes and separated by pillars with pointed arches. The church boasts an impressive monumental façade in the form of an altarpiece, as well as a three-part tower attached to the foot of the church.
One of the most impressive altarpieces in the province is on display inside the church, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, dating from between the 17th and 18th centuries.
The religious architecture of the area includes the 16th century Herrerian style Ermita del Humilladero de la Quinta Angustia Chapel, which currently houses the Municipal Exhibition Hall; the 16th century Vera Cruz Parish Church; and the Arch of San Miguel, a 12th century Gothic arch, which is the last vestige of the first parish church in the town, dedicated to San Miguel.
The festivities in honour of the Assumption of Our Lady and San Roque, the patron saint, will take place between 14 and 18 August. The Fiestas of San Blas are celebrated on 3 February, the Día de las Águedas on 5 February and Santa Cecilia on 22 December.
Another notable event is the Tudela Asparagus and Crafts Fair, held on the first weekend of June. This event celebrates the town's most prominent products.