Villavicencio de los Caballeros – Churches, Towers and Steppe Landscape

Villavicencio de los Caballeros can be explored through sacred art, traditional festivities and observation of the landscape. When comparing holiday apartments in Villavicencio de los Caballeros, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions provide an objective framework on the respective offer pages.

Culture and Architectural History

El Palacio, also known as Castillo de Villavicencio or La Mota, is a complex consisting of towers and an area enclosed by rammed-earth walls. The three naves of the Iglesia de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora were built in the 18th century; the work was completed in 1755. Its main altarpiece was created at the end of the 16th century. The sculptures are by Bautista Vázquez, while the polychrome decoration is by Tomás de Prado and Antonio Lozano. The same church houses three silver processional crosses from Villavicencio's three churches. The oldest dates from the 15th century and is associated with a student or successor of Enrique de Arfe. The Iglesia de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora also includes a polygonal chancel, built in the early 16th century in the Gothic style.

The Iglesia de San Pedro dates from the last quarter of the 16th century; work was carried out on the naves and sacristy in 1580. Four cylindrical pillars divide the three naves, while the transept is covered by a dome on pendentives. The church contains a sculpture of Saint Peter by Alejo de Vahía, made around 1500. A virtual 360-degree tour is also available for the Iglesia de San Pedro. At the southern edge of Villavicencio de los Caballeros lie the ruins of the Iglesia de San Pelayo below a distinctive Mudéjar tower known as the “Faro de Campos.” The upper levels of this tower have 48 windows. The Benedictine monks of Sahagún founded a convent for nuns in Villavicencio, whose building is now a ruin. Cayetano Francos y Monroy left a palace in Tierra de Campos in Villavicencio de los Caballeros, which is now threatened by decay.

Holy Week and Festive Dates

The Tercera Orden is a Holy Week tradition in Villavicencio de los Caballeros: on Maundy Thursday, the prayer of the Franciscan crown illustrates the Passion. On the following day, Good Friday, the Descendimiento in the Iglesia de Santa María is one of the traditional representations performed by members of the San Francisco brotherhood; it is followed by the Entierro procession. On September 14, Villavicencio de los Caballeros celebrates the feast in honor of Santo Cristo de la Gracia. The various dates and religious forms establish their own temporal focal points.

Other Places

For further local research, you can also visit Pollos, Castronuño, Medina De Rioseco, Villardefrades, Castromonte, Bobadilla Del Campo, Valoria La Buena and Villanueva de San Mancio.

Landscape and Nature

Penillanuras-Campos Sur lies between the Cea and Valderaduey rivers. The protected area is a fairly uniform steppe plain with dryland cereal cultivation and is of interest for steppe birds, especially the Montagu's harrier, lesser kestrel, little bustard and great bustard. A total of 316 hectares of this protected area lie within the municipality of Villavicencio de los Caballeros, corresponding to 9 percent of its area. The Torre de San Pelayo serves as a viewpoint over Tierra de Campos.

For the general travel overview: Valladolid.