Camino del Cid

It follows the history and the legend of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador, a medieval knight of the 11th century and one of Spain’s greatest characters.

[1] The main travel guide on the route is the Cantar de mio Cid, the great Hispanic medieval epic poem written at the end of the 12th century or beginning of the 13th.

This network of paths, some of which still exist today, began to be traveled as itineraries of the Cid towards the end of the nineteenth century by Archer Milton Huntington, founder of the Hispanic Society of America, followed shortly thereafter by the search for traces of the Cid through the Castilian and Aragonese lands by the philologist Ramón Menéndez Pidal and his wife Maria Goyri.

The location of this place, which is where the imaginary affront to El Cid's daughters occurs, has captured the attention of many academics.

There are monuments of medieval origin that are listed as World Heritage Sites: in Burgos, the Gothic cathedral and the Way of Saint James; Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon, a style of architecture of Islamic influence; in Valencia, the Water Tribunal of the Plain of Valencia and the Gothic Silk Market; in Algemesí (Valencia) the Festivity of La Mare de Déu de la Salut, and in Alicante, the Palmeral of Elche and the Mystery Play of Elche.

The Way of El Cid has 39 villages declared Historical and/or Artistic Sites by the Spanish government such as Covarrubias (Burgos), Burgo de Osma (Soria), Sigüenza (Guadalajara), Calatayud, Ateca and Daroca (Zaragoza), Albarracín (Teruel), Morella (Castellón), Xàtiva (Valencia) and Elche and Orihuela (Alicante).

This has ensured the conservation of a good number of castles, lookout towers and military constructions built at strategic locations to defend or watch over mountain passes and valleys.

The remaining 12% is covered along signposted MTB alternatives, created specifically so that cyclists can avoid some of the more difficult or technical hiking sections.

The Letter of Safe Conduct entitles travellers to discounts of around 10% at more than two hundred accommodation options on the Way of El Cid.

In addition, travellers can use the Letter of Safe Conduct to take advantage regular promotions and free gifts, including bracelets, badges, caps, bandolera scarves and T-shirts, etc.

The Letter of Safe Conduct is free of charge, and can be applied by mail or in-person at any of the 81 Tourist Information Offices located along the Way of El Cid.