Álvaro de Luna: following in his footsteps

The route that we propose this month is intense, and will transport you far, far away, specifically to the year 1453, and to the turbulent political climate of the time. We have prepared an itinerary that will take you through the main places that were involved in the fall, death and arrest of Álvaro de Luna, former constable of Castile, and favorite of King Juan II for a long time.

The life of the king's favorite was turbulent, he was born out of wedlock, he had to fight for social advancement, he married twice, and had several illegitimate children during his life. Furthermore, he had to face his detractors, and remain in his position, until finally, in the year 1453, pressure made John II order his arrest and subsequent execution.

Do you want to know which places witnessed the last days of his life? Here they go:

1. Portillo (the arrest of Álvaro de Luna)

It was in this town where Álvaro de Luna's hardships began, more specifically in his castle. This is where he was detained, and he would never be released again.

The visit of its fabulous interior shows us the different parts of the building, and allows us to observe the construction of a defensive castle, very different from our last stop on this route, the Arenas De San Pedro castle.

In this case, we can observe the austere construction, and the primacy of defensive elements, although perhaps the most striking thing is the well more than thirty meters deep that we find in the patio. The well can be visited, and the bottom is reached through a narrow spiral staircase, which reveals the various levels of construction.

2. Fuensalida

The king had to travel to this interesting town in Castilla la Mancha to silence the supporters of Don Álvaro de Luna, who after his arrest threatened rebellion.

Currently, if you visit the municipality, you will find a charming historic center, in which the Palace and the Jurisdictional Roll stand out.

3. Step

It was in the Escalona castle where his wife, Doña Juana de Pimentel, learned of the arrest of Don Álvaro de Luna, and although the interior of the castle cannot currently be visited due to its deteriorated condition, the exterior is worth visiting.

The castle was initially a Roman fortress, later the castle was built, and over time, it underwent various modifications.

Specifically, in the time of Álvaro de Luna, it was enlarged to add a palace, in which large banquets were held, and which would later serve as a refuge for his wife and son.

4. Valladolid

It was in Valladolid where Don Álvaro de Luna was detained, awaiting the execution of the sentence. And once the day arrived, they took him through the main streets of Valladolid, the same ones that we now find bustling and happy, until the tour ended in the Plaza del Ochavo, where he was finally executed.

If you are curious about the route our protagonist followed that day, you can start at the Buendía center of the University of Valladolid, continuing along Juan Mambrilla, Esgueva street... until ending at Plaza del Ochavo.

5. Toledo

The sculptural city of Toledo is where Don Álvaro de Luna was buried, more specifically in its cathedral.

The truth is that Toledo is a city so full of charm, culture, mystery and legends, that we could write another article, but for now, we recommend that you visit the chapel of our protagonist, since, if you still do not know the wonderful interior of the Cathedral of Toledo, it is time for you to enter and discover the history that its walls contain.

6. Arenas de San Pedro (Álvaro de Luna's palace)

Arenas De San Pedro, and its spectacular castle, was the place that the widow of Don Álvaro de Luna managed to maintain after the death of her husband. Juana de Pimentel, who had given the town as a marriage dowry, recovered it from the king's hands, and made it her refuge almost until her death. In fact, it is known by the nickname of the Castle of the Sad Countess, which is how Juana de Pimentel decided to sign her letters since the death of Don Álvaro de Luna.

If you decide to visit the castle, you will find a beautiful construction, which dominates the view of the town, and whose function was that of a palace, rather than a defensive castle.

The obligatory visit of the interior will show you a piece of the history of Don Álvaro de Luna, Doña Juana Pimentel, and their descendants who maintained ownership of the castle. We hope you liked this proposal that covers one of the most exciting chapters in our history, and as always, if you want to share your photos, or send us any suggestions, do not forget to write to: viajesinimprevistos@gmail.com.