Costa Blanca South
Monforte del Cid: Legend of the medieval knight El Cid
By Anna Ellis •
Published: 07 Jul 2024 • 14:39
Monforte del Cid owes its surname to the nearby Sierra del Cid, which is linked to a legend involving the medieval knight El Cid.
In the 13th century, the town was originally named Nompot. This name possibly originated because the town was situated at the foot of a mountain topped with a fortress.
Over time, the name evolved to Monfort, which was eventually adopted in its Spanish form as Monforte.
Del Cid Suffix
To distinguish it from other towns with the same name, it was given the suffix del Cid in the early 20th century.
This was in reference to the Sierra del Cid nearby, which commemorates the exploits of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar in the province of Alicante.
Legend has it that El Cid while travelling through the province of Alicante, paused to rest at the summit of the Sierra del Cid.
Cornered near a precipice and at a clear disadvantage, El Cid saw no chance of winning the battle.
In a desperate move, he charged at his attackers, shouting James the Apostle, help me!
La Patà del Cavall
Suddenly, a white horse ridden by Santiago appeared, taking the reins of Babieca, El Cid s horse.
With extraordinary strength, Babieca leapt to the top of the Sierra del Caballo.
As he landed, his horseshoes left imprints on a rock, which are still known today as La Patà del Cavall.
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Originally from Derbyshire, Anna has lived in the middle of nowhere on the Costa Blanca for 19 years. She is passionate about her animal family including four dogs and four horses, musicals and cooking.
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