Castle of Portillo

The prototype of the Valladolid School is, however, the result of the successive construction stages that take place over almost 150 years. It was built on a pre-existing fortress probably built by the Infante Tello in the fourteenth century: this first stage corresponds to the floor plan of the interior enclosure with pointed arches, Gothic vaults and a curious 'D'-shaped tower. During the reign of Henry IV (1454-1464), the tower with a large vaulted room was raised and the palace body was attached to the facade, keeping the shields on the fronts of the windows. In 1465 Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel, Count of Benavente, receives the castle: both will switch sides during the Castilian civil wars.

The count builds the outer barrier and the paved moats, reforms the courtyard and builds the impressive 32 m deep well with stairs and underground perimeter rooms.

Both the keep and the parade ground host numerous activities that make this castle an attractive cultural centre.