Medio CudeyoThe Estate of the Marquess of Valdecilla

The Estate of the Marquess of Valdecilla

This estate is the most important natural and cultural space of Medio Cudeyo. Walking along its garden is to transport oneself back to the beginning of the 20th century and to know the life of an “indiana” family. A place which has a diverse history and where these days modern training and cultural activities and congresses are held.
With a surface of 15 hectares, the Estate has a great garden and six buildings constructed between the19th century and beginning of the 20th century to be residence of Mr Ramón de la Torriente, Marquess of Valdecilla, an important businessman in Cuba and a great benefactor. Around this space you will find a garden full of stories?. Listen to the sound of the water in the fountain, observe its sculptures or sit down under the shade of impressive hundred-year-old trees. Don’t forget to visit The White House, a building that was once the Marquess’ house, The Solana, a typical house of popular highland architecture, The Casuca (cottage), San Rafael’s house, the Garaje or the Cabaña (hut).The places to visit are numerous in this site.
Allegorical sculpture of the Asian continent in the garden of the Estate
The Marquess and his estate

Ramon Pelayo de la Torriente, Marquess of Valdecilla, was a clever trader. He travelled to Cuba at the age of fourteen and he became an important industrialist with an interest in the technical advances of the industry, which made him travel to The United States. He married Maria Teresa Piedra Perez-Abreu in Cuba. At the end of the 19th century he built his house in a cattle ranch and he extended the estate by adding other buildings. In 1920 he sold his business in Cuba and he came back to Valdecilla until his death in 1932. In 2003 the Town hall of Medio Cudeyo acquired the Estate with all its cultural and natural patrimony.

Courses and conferences

The Estate is also a place of numerous cultural and training activities. Every year, this site is used for the summer courses of University of Cantabria, transforming it into a small " teaching campus " and turning Valdecilla into a meeting place among students. As well as this event, there are organized learning courses, conferences and exhibitions all the year round. The estate has " The Garage ", a completely reformed old garage that houses spacious and modern classrooms equipped for cultural use.

A natural and culture site
The main access to the Estate is across an impressive gate made of stone with a coat of arms from the old house of Los Quintana in Penagos. Once inside, visitors will be able to see the White House, Mr Ramon Pelayo's former residence built from 1892 in the classical trend. The spacious garden has numerous arboreal species, and worthy of note is Mariano Benlliure's fountain. This fountain is a sculptural group of granite and polychrome ceramics that consists of a childish scene with eight children and a big swan that holds a sink in a shell shape. The piece was made in 1928 in collaboration with the Ceramic Factory of Ruiz de Luna in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo).
Benlliure's fountain.

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