Walled town in southeastern Burgos, on a hill at 906 m altitude, on the Riaza 15 km above the Duero. A town on a subsidiay trade route since Roman times, it was first reconquered in 912.
To the great suffering of the population, the town then changed hands between Moor and Christian several times during the next century. The walls and fortifications still visible today date back to the Cid's time; the city's main church dates from the 15th Century, although incorporating elements going back to Roman times.
And there went fifty with Martin Garcia and Martin Salvadorez, and fifty with Pero Gonzalvez and Martin Munoz, and Diego Sanchez of Arlanza went with fifty, and Don Nuno, he who colonized Cubiella, and Alvar Bermudez he who colonized Osma, went with forty, and Gonzalo Munoz of Orbaneja, and Muno Ravia, and Yvanez Cornejo with sixty, and Muno Fernandez the Lord of Monteforte, and Gomez Fernandez he who colonized Pampliego with sixty; and Don Garcia de Roa and Serrazin his brother, Lord of Aza, with ninety; and Antolin Sanchez of Soria took with him forty knights who were his children or his kin:...nine hundred knights were they in all.