Medina del Campo

Medina del Campo became one of Castile's great market towns, its fairs drawing merchants, bankers and goods from across Europe. Royal support helped them grow into meetings of international consequence; in 1491 the Catholic Monarchs recognised them as the General Fairs of the Kingdom. Trade and finance gathered around the town's broad square, while the castle of La Mota guarded the approaches. In 1520, during the Revolt of the Comuneros, a fire devastated Medina and damaged its commercial life.