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Medina de Rioseco

This city, natural capital of the Tierra de Campos, is located forty-five kilometres north of Valladolid, at an altitude of 735 metres. The Sequillo river, sometimes a floods breeder and usually just a string of water, crosses part of the most modern part of the town.
The inhabitants census is over five thousand people. Its economy is based on dry and irrigation farming, tourism, agricultural food industry and above all, the city provides administrative and leisure time services for a vast area.
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HISTORY.- This land was already inhabited in neolithic times, however its splendour began in the early 14th century. The fairs and markets, the rich merchants, the dukedom, the construction of temples and palaces, the artists, architects and artisans came under the trusteeship of the Enriquez family. In the middle of the 17th century the king Philip the fourth granted Rioseco a city title.
The construction of the Campos Canal ends in the middle of the 19th century and the Valladolid-Rioseco railway is inaugurated.
 Saint Francis

The city of Medina de Rioseco has numerous magnificent buildings.
Saint Francis Church, consecrated in 1520, is the only remains of a grand convent financed by the Almirals. It is gothic style, with an only nave, choir at the back and eight chapels. Most of its works of art dissapeared and are now scattered all over the other city temples. Although the convent was declared historic artistic monument in 1931, this fact did not stop its deterioration.

Saint Mary Saint Mary of Mediavilla Church is gothic style, with three naves covered by vaults. Gaspar Solo rzano directed most of the construction. It was declared historic artisUc monument on June 4th, 1931. Inside you can visit the Funerary Chapel of the Benavente family, one of the artistic jewels in Spain. It is decorated with polichrome and gold stucco. The main retable is a Juan de luni's piece of work. The Parish Museum is in the old sacristy and in the baptismal chapel. It keeps a collection of ivory objects, liturgical ornaments and garments and several magnificent silver pieces.
Santiago's Church The Holy Cross Church, from the 16th century, is classicistic style (herriano), and was built by the architect Felipe de Ia Cajiga. It has been wholly restored Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón designed the general plan for the Santiago's Church. He presented the project in 1533. The exterior fronts show different styles: The Miguel de Espinosa's plateresque style to the south; the Gil the Hontañón's gothis style to the north; and the main one, the Alvaro de Tolosa's classicistic style. The building is gothic style and its most surprising feature is its interior brightness and grandeur emphasised by its vaults height. It was declared historic artistic monument on October 8th, 1964.
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a PORTADA

The Holy Week, declared National Tourist Interest, is one of the magic vertexes, together with Zamora and Valladolid, in the austere Castilian processional triangle that takes out to the streets its people's tradition and devotion. Each year the "cofradias" (confraternities) illuminate nineteen 'pasos' of the best religious image makers from Castile: Gregorio Fernández, Juan de Juni, Mateo Enriquez.
In gastronomy, you can find old recipes that turn the most simple elements into exquisite dishes: lamb roast, hunting pieces, cheese, pork, "embutido" (sausages), bread and pastrymaking.
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