Burgos Excursion
Founded in 884, Burgos has played a significant political and military role in Spanish history. It was orbited by several villages (burgos = boroughs in English), which eventually melded together to form the basis of the city. It experienced its period of fame in 1494, with the creation of the Consulado del Mar, an institution which governed the wool trade with Flanders and England. Today, it has a population of 346,000 and has become one of the most heavily visited cities in Castilla y Leon. Food connoisseurs will appreciate the delicious queso de Burgos and morcilla (blood sausage with rice and tripe.) From quiet strollers along the Río Arlanzón to college kids out on the town, Burgos conveys an aura of vivacity, prosperity, and above all Spanish elegance.
Santa Iglesia Cathedral
Gothic in design, La Catedral de Burgos is the true symbol of Burgos, and the 3rd largest cathedral in Spain. Work began in 1221 to replace a Romanesque church, and was finished 40 years later, and involved many great artists and architects in Europe. The style is entirely Gothic, while also showing influences from Germany and France. Devout visitors can enter the Chapel of Christ, the cathedral’s holiest and infamous arch- the crucified Jesus is constructed of real human body parts.
El Cid
The Legend of El Cid & Doña Jimena
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (known as El Cid) was born into a noble family. He served Fernando I, but was banished from his hometown after becoming entangled with arguments with the king’s sons. He switched allegiances to fight for the Moors, then changed sides again for the Christians, and helped capture the city of Valencia. Known for never losing a battle, he ruled the city until his death, and was named El Cid, from the Arabic word Sidi (meaning Lord) for his heroism. His exploits made their mark on history of the province and inspired the author Corneille to write his famous work about El Cid. One of the works most notable passages is when Corneille describes the pain El Cid felt when leaving his wife and daughters behind to fight. The pain is described as equal to that of tearing “la uña de la carne” (the fingernail from the flesh.) El Cid is always depicted with a long flowing beard symmetrical to those in the Bible; which represents strength.
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