Palencia

Palencia (the ancient Pallantia), a walled city of Spain, in Old Castile, stands in a fruitful plain, 180 miles by rail NNW. of Madrid and 29 NNE. of Valladolid. The Gothic cathedral was built 1321–1504. The first university of Castile was founded here in 1208, but was removed to Salamanca in 1239. Blankets and coarse woollen cloths are manufactured. The vine is cultivated, and there is a good trade in wool. Pop. 14,505.—The province of Palencia has an area of 3256 sq. m. and a pop. (1887) of 188,954.