Valdunquillo | |
|---|---|
 Palace of the Dukes of Alba | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Valdunquillo | |
  Valdunquillo Location in Spain | |
| Coordinates:42°2′0″N5°43′19″W / 42.03333°N 5.72194°W /42.03333; -5.72194 | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Castile and León |
| Province | Valladolid |
| Comarca | Tierra de Campos |
| Judicial district | Medina de Rioseco |
| Founded | See text |
| Government | |
| • Alcalde | Máximo Baza Pastor (2007) |
| Area | |
• Total | 30.8 km2 (11.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 741 m (2,431 ft) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 133 |
| • Density | 4.3/km2 (11/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 47672 |
| Dialing code | 983 |
| Official language(s) | Spanish |
| Website | Official website |
Valdunquillo is a municipality located in theprovince of Valladolid,Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004census (INE), the municipality has a population of 179 inhabitants. The town's residents traditionally call themselves "lechugeros," a testament to the fact that the town had a good reputation for cultivatinglettuce. Valdunquillo is adjacent to the townsLa Unión de Campos,Villalogán,Bolaños de Campos,Valderas,Medina de Rioseco, andVillavicencio de los Caballeros.
Valdunquillo has been occupied byChristians,Jews, andMuslims. However, archaeological evidence shows that the area was likely first inhabited by theVaccaei. The first written reference of the town appears in a document, dating to the year 1126, in which theCountessDoña Mayor donates to the monastery ofSahagún. In another donation, dating to the year 1192, it is referred to as "Valle de Junquello," perhaps the origin of its present-day name. On March 5, 1368,KingEnrique II ceded the town to Alvar Pérez Osorio. TheOsorio family formed much of the town's history, and promoted itsconvent. On May 1, 1623, KingPhilip IV of Spain granted Francisca de Valdés Osorio themarquisate of Valdunquillo.
The architecture of Valdunquillo consists mainly ofadobe and brick with tile roofs, typical of Castile. Also typical of the area are its many palomares. The town is part of the comarca, Tierra de Campos. The area's first inhabitants were theVaccaei, then it was occupied by theRomans, and then theGoths. It was also the border between Muslims and Christians during theMiddle Ages. During theMedieval era and theRenaissance, the area was the breadbasket of Spain. As time passed, its importance declined, and people fled to large cities, likeValladolid,Sevilla,Madrid, andBarcelona.
