Alaejos: Mudéjar, Festivals and Traditional Foods

Alaejos is part of the Ruta del Mudéjar de Castilla y León. The historic ensemble of Alaejos is designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). For your planning, you can consider architecture, history, feast days, pilgrimage and food as separate areas of focus.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Alaejos, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions are part of the accommodation details to consider. The Mudéjar churches stand alongside these as a separate cultural focus. Considering both separately makes it possible to organise accommodation information and local sights clearly. Culture, dates and regional foods each add different areas of focus to your personal planning in Alaejos.

Culture and History

The Iglesia de San Pedro is a 16th-century Mudéjar building with three interior naves covered by ribbed vaults. The Iglesia de Santa María is a 16th-century Mudéjar church built entirely of brick.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Casita houses a dressed statue of the Virgin Mary from the 18th century. The Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Casita is located outside Alaejos on a small hill.

The now-vanished Castillo de Alaejos played a role in the 15th-century Castilian succession conflict; Juana of Portugal was held there. The ethnographic collection of Alaejos displays more than 1,000 exhibits from vanished crafts and everyday life.

Festivals and Traditions

Holy Week in Alaejos includes the Procession of Silence with the Dolorosa at midnight on Good Friday. On 10 May, Nuestra Señora de la Casita is honoured in Alaejos with a Mass and a pilgrimage to the hermitage.

The carnival traditions of Alaejos begin with Jueves de Compadres and Jueves de Comadres; they include picnics in the countryside with hornazos and mondongo.

The festivals in honour of the Virgen de la Casita are among the most important local festivals in Alaejos and include numerous celebrations. These festivals in Alaejos include bull runs through the streets.

Cuisine

The traditional morcillas of Alaejos are made from pork blood and seasoned with garlic, cumin, cloves, oregano, lard and paprika. The traditional empanada of Alaejos is made from sweet bread and filled with cured meats.

The sweets of Alaejos include bollos, pastas and arrastraos, which are prepared with lard and chicharrones.

Other Places

Other places include Sardoncillo O la Granja, Campaspero, Cubillas De Santa Marta, Casasola De Arión, Villasexmir, Torrecilla De La Torre, Megeces and Nava Del Rey.

Sightseeing

Visits to the Iglesia de Santa María in Alaejos are guided and free of charge. Advance booking is required by telephone or through the tourist office. The tourist office is open from April to October.

For the broader travel overview: Valladolid.