Palencia

:Other use: Palencia, Guatemala.

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Palencia is a city in the northwest of the Tierra de Campos of central Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. The municipality had a population of 80,801 in 2002.

Related Topics:
Spain - Province of Palencia - Autonomous community - Castile-Leon

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Palencia contains a few sights. The Roman bridge across the Carrion was replaced by the medieval one of three arches: the old section of the city is on the left bank, the modern suburban development on the right bank. The old city walls more than 10 meters high can still be traced; the alamedas or promenades along them were laid out in 1778. The flamboyant Gothic Cathedral built from 1321 to 1504, dedicated to San Antolín, stands over a low vaulted Visigothic crypt and its museum contains a number of important works of art, including a retablo of twelve panels by Juan de Flandes, court painter to Queen Isabella of Castile. The Archeological Museum contains Celtiberian ceramics. Palencia is also famous for the 13th-century church of San Miguel and the Benedictine monastery of San Zoilo, housed in an 18th-century rococo structure by Juan de Badajoz.

Related Topics:
Cathedral - Crypt - Juan de Flandes - Isabella of Castile - Celtiberian - Rococo

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