Valladolid

Modern Valladolid, capital of Castile-León, is a sprawling industrial center in the middle of a flat stretch of Castilian terrain. The surrounding countryside has a desolate, wintry sort of beauty, its vast, brittle fields unfolding grandly toward the horizon, punctuated here and there with swaths of green. The city has an important place in Spain's history: Ferdinand and Isabella were married here, Felipe II was born and baptized here, and Felipe III made Valladolid the capital of Spain for six years. Though not an especially scenic town, Valladolid has the National Museum of Sculpture and plenty of interesting history.