Valladolid Cathedral

Designed by Juan de Herrera in the 16th Century, the Valladolid Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Assumption, is a vestige of the city's short-lived glory days as the de-facto capital of United Spain, before the royal court moved to Madrid. This shift in the city's status translated into a dramatic shortfall of resources that forced the architects' to compromise on the grand scale of the undertaking. Had the architect's original plan been realized, the cathedral would have been the largest of its kind in Europe. Nonetheless, it is the pride of Valladolid; an austere Rennaisance beauty capped by sculptures credited to the masterful Alberto Churriguera. Inside, the cathedral shelters a rich cache of ecclesiastical art in a fittingly pious abode. The centerpiece is a 16th-century altar by Juan de Juni, replete with sculpted depictions of saints, gilded in gold. There are several fine paintings, as well as an extensive musical archive and museum. The view from the top of the south tower is an attraction in itself that draws visitors aplenty.