Local overview
Tordesillas is a town and municipality in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, central Spain. It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of the provincial capital, Valladolid at an elevation of 704 m (2,310 ft).
The town is located on the Douro River although the river is not navigable at that point. Highways connect to Madrid (182 km (113 mi) southeast) and Salamanca (96 km (60 mi) southwest). The provincial capital Valladolid is also linked by four-lane highway. Because of its important highway connections Tordesillas has become a major transit hub. The economy is based on services—especially connected to tourism—and the agricultural production of the surrounding area. Wheat has long been the traditional agricultural product (see Cuisine of the province of Valladolid).
The town has many hotels with a Parador, four three-star hotels, one two-star hotel, and ten hostels and pensions. A camping site is nearby. Over 25 restaurants includes the three-star Parador restaurant. North of the town there is a fertile valley formed by the Douro, with extensive use of irrigation by central pivots.
Tordesillas is known for its Toro de la Vega festival during which a bull was slaughtered by people on horseback and on foot. Animal rights groups repeatedly tried to stop this traditional killing, and the practice was discontinued in 2016.
