Atienza
Perched on a hilltop with impressive views, the village has a number of old churches and medieval buildings, as well as a castle. It forms part of the legend of El Cid, and he is quoted as having commented on the strength of its position as he passed through into exile in one of his less glorious moments.
The castle of Atienza has existed in one form or another since the Iberians dominated the Peninsula and can be seen from many miles away. Standing beneath its sheer walls, it is easy enough to imagine standing below the walls of a great city such as Troy.
The castle was built by the Arabs between the XI and XII centuries.
El Cid considered it too strong to attack and it wasn’t until King Alfonso VI took Toledo that the castle surrendered to Christian rule.
In the XV century Atienza was scenario to various battles between the rival kingdoms of Navarra and Castilla.
The castle had one prestigious guest, the Duke of Calabria, who was invited to stay there whether he wanted to or not by the Catholic Monarch, Fernando.
The castle suffered during the Napoleonic invasion and during the Spanish Civil War..
