Atienza © Mark Wade

Ancient city 82 km from Guadalajara, on a commanding hill over the old Roman road between Tiermes and Osma. The castle, dating back to pre-Roman times, is at 1250 km altitude.

Known to the Celtiberians as Athitia, the town was occupied as early as the 4th Century BC. Between the 9th and 15th Centuries AD it had the misfortune of being a frontier town, changing hands first between Aragon and the Moors, then between Castille and Aragon. The general medieval aspect of the town preserve the flavor of the Cid's time, although all of the existing churches date from a century or two later. A colorful parade of horsemen on the Sunday after Pentecost commemorates the liberation of Alfonso VI by Atienzan muleteers from the Ferdinand II of Leon in 1163. Latitude: 41.20057. Longitude: -2.86965.

• Book I Chapter XII:

  And he came up with them between Atienza and San Estevan de Gormaz, as they were carrying away a great booty in captives and in flocks, and there he had a brave battle with them in the field; and in fine Rodrigo conquered, smiting and slaying, and the pursuit lasted for seven leagues, and he recovered all the spoil, which was so great that two hundred horses were the fifth, for the whole spoil was worth a hundred times a thousand maravedis.

• Book III Chapter XVII:

  And the Cid followed them to Atienza, and to Ciguenza, and Fita, and Guadalajara, and through the whole land of St. Esteban, as far as Toledo, slaying and burning, and plundering and destroying, and laying hands on all whom he found, so that he brought back seven thousand prisoners, men and women; and he and all his people returned rich and with great honour.

• Book VIII Chapter XXI:

  That night they rested at Santesteban, and on the morrow they set forward and took the road towards Atienza, and the men of Santesteban escorted them as far as the river Damor, to do them pleasure.