VALLADOLID

city, capital of Valladolid province, in the comunidad autnoma (autonomous community) of Castile-Len, northwestern Spain. The city lies along the Pisuerga River at its confluence with the Esgueva, southwest of Burgos. The first recorded mention of Valladolid (Moorish Belad Ulid) appears to be in a letter of 1074 from Alfonso VI to Count Pedro Ansrez granting him the lordship of the place. Under Ansrez, Valladolid grew into a city of considerable importance. From the reigns of Alfonso VII to Philip II (and again from 1600 to 1606 under Philip III) it was the seat of the Castilian and then of the Spanish court. The Ansrez lordship was ended in 1208 when Alfonso VIII incorporated Valladolid with the crown lands. The Catholic monarchs Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon were married there in 1469. Valladolid suffered severely during the Peninsular War (180814), when many of its ancient buildings were destroyed by the French. Surviving architectural monuments are the collegiate church of Santa Cruz (late 15th century); the university, which has a Baroque facade (1715) by Narciso and Diego Tom; the house of the counts of Rivadavia (now the Diputacin Provincial), in which Philip II was born in 1527; and the Capitana General palace, a former royal palace with a notable patio. The unfinished cathedral, incorporating parts of a 13th-century structure, was begun in 1585 by Juan de Herrera and was consecrated in 1688. Other landmarks include the collegiate church of San Gregorio, of the 15th century, with a magnificent late Gothic facade, now housing a famous museum of wood sculpture and carving; and a monument to Christopher Columbus (erected 1905), who died in Valladolid on May 20, 1506. Valladolid's university (founded 1346) is one of the oldest in Spain. The city has many other educational institutions and is the seat of an archbishop. Industry (food processing, textiles, engineering) and commerce are the most important sources of employment, though there is some work in forestry and agriculture. Pop. (1985 est.) 335,374. province, in the comunidad autnoma (autonomous community) of Castile-Len, northwestern Spain. It is bordered by the provinces of Len and Palencia (north), by Burgos and Segovia (east), by Segovia, vila, and Salamanca (south), and by Zamora (west). It is a great plain with an area of 3,166 square miles (8,201 square km) lying in the basin of the Duero (Portuguese: Douro) River, which crosses it from east to west. Northern Valladolid is part of the so-called Tierra de Campos, known as the granary of Spain. The most important crops there are wheat, barley, oats, rye, and vegetables; sugar and chicory are grown, and alfalfa and corn (maize) are produced for fodder. The use of irrigation and agricultural mechanization is increasing in the province. Flour milling is important, and there are other industries connected with food, as well as metalworking, textile weaving, chemical manufacture, construction, and tanning, all mainly in the provincial capital, Valladolid (q.v.). Wine production is also significant. Besides Valladolid city, the main population centres are Medina del Campo, Iscar, Medina de Roseco, Peafiel and Tordesillas. Pop. (1986 est.) 485,335.