LA MANCHA

Narrator
"En un lugar de La Mancha..." are the first words of the most famous novel in the world: Don Quijote de La Mancha. Even today, centuries after Cervantes' opus magnus was written, the tales of the knight errant are still very popular all over the world. If you wish to visit La Mancha, an interesting way to do it is to follow in the footsteps of the famous knight.

[shouting] ... Onwards to adventure...

Narrator
A good starting point would be the church of Argamasilla de Alba, where hangs the portrait that is believed to have inspired Cervantes' famous character. However, to be a proper Quixote, Robert Elms needs his very own Sancho Panza, Don José Díaz.

José Díaz
Good morning, how are things?

Robert Elms
Why do you say 'the place in La Mancha'?

José Díaz
We say it because we firmly believe that the place in La Mancha that Cervantes' did not wish to name was here, Argamasilla de Alba. And the reason he did not wish to remember it is because when he passed through himself, he was imprisoned in Medrano cave. Since he was imprisoned there and ill-treated, it's hardly surprising that he did not wish to remember it.

Robert Elms
OK, let's go. 

José Díaz
Let's go.

Robert Elms
Where are we headed?

José Díaz
Let's go towards Ruidera, following the banks of the upper Guadiana river.

Robert Elms
OK, good.

Robert Elms
Don José, what happens on this spot in Quixote?

José Díaz
This is the famous Montesinos cave that Cervantes describes in Chapter 23 of Part II of his work. He mentions the wizard Merlin, Montesinos, Belerma and it is here that he mentions that all enchanted him besides the lakes of Ruidera.

Robert Elms
Is this really the cave?

José Díaz
Yes, it's 70, 70 or 80m deep.

Robert Elms
It was a great adventure he had here....

José Díaz
Yes, a great adventure in the cave.

Robert Elms
Good.

José Díaz
OK?

Robert Elms
Yes, good!

Robert Elms
Where are we now?

José Díaz
These are the famous Ruidera lakes, which Cervantes mentions in Chapter 23 of Part II of his work. There are 15 of them in 16 km.

Robert Elmso
And they are quite natural?

José Díaz
All natural. They are an oasis in the high airy plains of La Mancha.

[music]

Robert Elmso
Don José, where are we now?

José Díaz
This is the famous city of Toboso, home to Dulcinea, Don Quixote of La Mancha's true love. This here is precisely the great lady's bedchamber. From here we can see the church belltower, which inspired that great phrase "... and the church we have encountered, Sancho."

Robert Elmso
He's very respectful, old Sancho. Let's go!

José Díaz
Let's go!

[music]

José Díaz 
Here is Campo de Criptana, where Don Quixote said to Sancho: "You see yonder Sancho advance thirty or more mighty giants with which I shall engage in dreadful battle and with the booty will we shall start to become rich."

Robert Elms
Do I have to do battle with the giants?

José Díaz
Well... it was his imagination, he mistook the windmills for giants and that is the origin of the saying: "Don't mistake your windmills for giants".....

Robert Elms
Thanks very much.

José Díaz
OK.

[music]