This medieval town in northern Spain was the site of the 1494 treaty that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. Its 15th-century Plaza Mayor remains active.
Tordesillas, home to 8,760 people in Spain’s Castile and LeĂłn region, lies along the Douro River 25 kilometers southwest of Valladolid. Cross its 10-arched medieval bridge to reach the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara, a 14th-century MudĂ©jar palace converted into a convent that held Queen Juana I captive for over four decades. The joined Casas del Tratado palaces mark where Spain and Portugal split control of the Americas in 1494. Walk through the arcaded Plaza Mayor, surrounded by 17th-century columns, or enter churches like San AntolĂn to see woodcarvings by Juan de Juni. You’ll find markets selling seasonal produce, quiet lanes with whitewashed houses, and the Parador hotel framed by pine trees, letting you experience both history and daily life in Castile.
Royal Monastery of Santa Clara and Its Historical Legacy
Start your visit at the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara, built as a palace by King Alfonso XI in 1344. His son Pedro I later turned it into a convent, preserving original Mudéjar details like carved plaster ceilings and a bathhouse with star-shaped vents. In the Saldaña Chapel, a 15th-century folding altarpiece depicts saints in vivid colors, and the cloisters hold the clavichord Queen Juana I played during her imprisonment here until 1555. Designated a protected site in 1931, the monastery reveals its history through the Almohad-style brickwork on its exterior and Gothic arches inside. Guides explain how royal chambers became nuns’ cells, pointing out traces of gold leaf in the throne room and the simplicity of the refectory where meals are still served.
The Treaty of Tordesillas and Casas del Tratado
The Casas del Tratado hosted the 1494 agreement that split newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, giving Portugal rights to Brazil. Today, these two connected palaces display copies of the treaty, navigation charts used by explorers, and a replica of the wooden globe from negotiations. Notice the original stone entrance where ambassadors entered, then examine Renaissance tapestries depicting maritime expeditions in rooms lit by wrought-iron chandeliers. Detailed panels explain how this inland town became a diplomatic hub, influencing trade routes and colonial borders for centuries.
Plaza Mayor and Architectural Landmarks
Tordesillas’ Plaza Mayor centers around a square bordered by stone arcades completed in 1617. CafĂ©s set up tables under the arches during weekly markets where vendors sell lentils from La Armuña, saffron, and leather belts tooled with floral patterns. Five minutes west, the Church of Santa MarĂa rises with a granite façade and an interior influenced by El Escorial’s severe style. Head to the Church of San AntolĂn to see Juan de Juni’s 16th-century altarpiece showing Christ’s crucifixion, its figures twisted in anguish. Climb the San Salvador tower, part of the town’s original 12th-century walls, for views over red-tiled rooftops.
Religious Art and Churches
Tordesillas’ churches preserve detailed artworks spanning Gothic to Baroque periods. San AntolĂn’s Alderete Chapel displays Juan de Juni’s 1550 altarpiece with lifelike carvings of the Last Supper and Resurrection, painted in deep blues and crimsons. At the smaller Church of Santiago, a gold-leaf Baroque altarpiece dominates the nave, its columns entwined with grapevines. The sacristy of Santa MarĂa houses 18th-century Flemish tapestries illustrating hunting scenes, donated by a local noble family. For a different perspective, visit the Convento de Carmelo to buy almond cookies made by cloistered nuns, passed through a wooden wheel without direct contact.
Festivals and Local Traditions
Every September, residents honor the Virgen de la Peña with a procession to her riverside chapel, hauling flower-decked carts by hand and sharing garlic soup cooked over open fires. The former Torneo del Toro de la Vega, where participants chased a bull through fields, was replaced in 2016 with historical plays and folk music performances in period costumes. In May, the RomerĂa de la Muela draws hikers to a hilltop shrine overlooking the Douro, followed by communal picnics of cured meats and local wines.
Local Cuisine and Dining Options
Restaurants here specialize in roast suckling lamb slow-cooked in wood ovens and stews with broad beans from La Granja. El Torreón serves thin slices of beef topped with foie gras, best paired with Tempranillo wines from nearby Ribera del Duero vineyards. Alquira, a family-run spot near the plaza, offers grilled octopus on potato slices alongside aged sheep’s cheese drizzled with honey. Try spiced pork skewers at Bar El Tratado, a busy spot where regulars gather for tapas. The Parador’s restaurant updates classics like partridge pâté, served with quince jelly in a room facing gardens and pine woods.
Day Trips and Nearby Attractions
Drive 30 minutes northeast to Valladolid’s National Sculpture Museum, housing 15th-century polychrome statues by Gregorio Fernández. Southwest toward Salamanca, visit the university’s carved Plateresque library and the sandstone Plaza Mayor lit by golden lamps after sunset. Those interested in wine can tour Rueda’s vineyards to sample verdejo whites or explore Medina del Campo’s Castillo de La Mota, a brick fortress with a 40-meter moat. Closer to town, follow the Douro’s walking paths to spot gray herons near the medieval bridge or electric-blue kingfishers darting over the water.
Getting to Tordesillas and Transportation
Tordesillas is a two-hour drive from Madrid via the A-6 and AP-6 highways. Buses run hourly to Valladolid (30 minutes) and Salamanca (1 hour), while the nearest train station in Medina del Campo connects to major cities via a 20-kilometer taxi ride. All central sights are within a 10-minute walk, but allow extra time to reach the Parador or riverside trails. Park free near the bullring or rent an electric bike to pedal to TorrelobatĂłn, where a 15th-century castle tower dominates the skyline.
