Map of Burgos Area © Mark Wade

Although held by the Moors, the population of this town had accepted the protection of Alfonso, and therefore this was considered the limit of his kingdom by the poet.

Also Alcubilla, meaning Small Tower. Alcoceba is perhaps a copyist's error; there is no town with a name like that between San Esteban de Gormaz and Berlanga, but there is Alocbiella. The hill made a perfect sentry post along the Duero between Burgos de Osma and San Esteban de Gormaz. Today no remnant of the town is visible. The hill is honeycombed with storage caves, and topped by the remains of an ancient castro, which was besieged by the Moslems under Abderrahman III in 920. Latitude: 41.56741. Longitude: -3.13385.

• Book III Chapter XXV:

  That night my Cid lay at Spinar de Can, and people flocked to him from all parts, and early on the morrow he set out; Santestevan lay on his left hand, which is a good city, and Ahilon on the right, which belongs to the Moors, and he passed by Alcobiella, which is the boundary of Castille.

• Book VIII Chapter XXI:

  And they past Alcoceba, and went on to the King's Ford, and there took up their lodging at the Casa de Berlanga.