Tourists are invited to follow in the steps of El Cid Dec 24, 2009

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A brand new excursion route has been developed in Spain. The tracking route is dedicated to the heroes of the Reconquista. One of the most important heroes of the Spanish Reconquista is Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador. Under his command a large part of the Iberian peninsula territories were liberated from Muslim domination. The touristic route "The Path of El Cid" follows in the footsteps of this great warrior: through the Castilla plains and all the way to the Spanish coast of Levante. The route passes through places related to the real life of El Cid, as well as through those places that are mentioned in the epic "Song of El Cid", which happens to be the first written work in old Spanish. The route begins in the Burgos province, and goes through a set of 11 checkpoints located in different provinces of Spain: Soria, Guadalajara, Saragossa, Teruel, Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante.

There are two major routes which differ in terms of the transportation used on each - the first route is for cars, buses, vans, RWs, and other vehicles, totaling at 1929 kilometers, and the second route is for walking - 1709 kilometers long. The Path of El Cid is a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the part of Spain remarkable due to the abundance of historical and architectural monuments. In the same time you will be able to feel a touch of the important and fundamental period in the history of Spain. In the Middle Ages, everyone who embarked on this path would receive a special document proving the travelers status. Today, those who travel the path of El Cid also receive a similar document.

Every tourist has to get a special stamp in at least five checkpoints along the path. If all the stamps are collected the traveler will receive a special document at the end of the journey to demonstrate that the holder has successfully finished the quest of the Great Spanish warrior. In order to turn the journey into a more authentic adventure the Committee that curates the Path of El Cid organized several contests. There is a photography contest, a literature contest, and there is also a set of special prizes for winners in different nominations, and the gifts will be truly memorable.