| Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (El Cid), a military and political
leader, was born in Vivar around the year 1043, in a town
that is known as Vivar del Cid. He was educated in the Castilian
royal court, serving the prince Sancho II, who later became
the Spanish king. Sancho was assassinated in the year 1072,
and El Cid served now the new king Alfonso, brother of Sancho,
until the exile of El Cid, likely because of entering Granada
with troops and without any authorization of Alfonso.
The influences of El Cid Campeador, the epical and historical
mounted knight from Castilla (Castile), have marked traditions,
customs and places through which he passed, as he left Burgos
in exile towards Valencia. This route allows tourists to discover
the legendary past of this universal myth.
In Castilla and Leon the route passes through several villages
in the provinces of Burgos and Soria. The route starts out
from Vivar del Cid and continues through Burgos on to the
Monasterio de Cardeña (Cardeña Monastery), where
El Cid Campeador left behind his family to continue his way
to Soria, after visiting the towns of Covarrubias and Silos.
Covarrubia is a beautiful medieval town,
declared of historical artistic interest and with narrow streets
and wooden houses with nice façades.
Several other villages and towns in Soria have had the privilege
of El Cid's presence. Some of these villages include El Burgo
de Osma with its Cathedral, declared a monument of
special cultural interest in 1931, and being the most important
one in the province of Soria, San Esteban de Gormaz and Berlanga
de Duero. Here, the inhabitants still offer the chance to
learn about this knight's past and enjoy the wonderful beauty
of the surroundings.
From Castile and Leon the route continues through the autonomous
regions of Castile La Mancha, Aragon and Valencia.
El Cid, together with his wife, are buried in the Cathedral
of Burgos, declared World Heritage by the UNESCO.
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