Medina del Campo is one of the great historic towns of Castile, and the Castillo de la Mota — a massive 15th-century brick fortress with a distinctive keep — is one of the finest castles in Spain. The castle served as a state prison (Cesare Borgia was held here) and as a royal residence. It can be visited, and the interior is impressive.
The town was one of the most important trading centers in medieval Europe. The Ferias de Medina — great commercial fairs held here from the 15th century — drew merchants from across the continent and helped establish modern banking practices.
Isabel la Católica died here in 1504, in the Palacio Real Testamentario, which is now a small museum. The Plaza Mayor is one of the largest in Spain — its vast dimensions reflect the market fairs that once filled it.
Medina has all services — good restaurants, accommodation, supermarkets, and a railway station with connections to Valladolid and Madrid.
Medina del Campo's commercial fairs, established in the 15th century, were among the most important in Europe. The fairs pioneered financial instruments that are considered precursors to modern banking — letters of exchange, credit notes, and insurance contracts were all developed or refined here. The expression "there's law in Medina" (hay ley en Medina) became a byword for commercial justice. Isabel la Católica chose Medina as her final resting place, dying here on November 26, 1504.
