Estatua del Cid, Bronze equestrian monument in Plaza Mio Cid, Spain.
The Estatua del Cid is a 4-metre bronze equestrian figure on a granite and limestone pedestal about 5 metres tall, in Plaza Mio Cid beside the Arlanzón. It shows Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar with a raised sword, riding Babieca mid-stride. The pedestal carries two inscriptions on his life and death and the coats of arms of Burgos and Castile. The eight related figures by Joaquín Lucarini stand on the Puente de San Pablo, not at the statue.
The monument honors Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar from the 11th century, a military commander who served under both Christian and Muslim rulers while controlling significant territories across the Iberian Peninsula. His legacy was preserved through centuries of storytelling and continues to shape how the region's medieval past is remembered.
The statue depicts El Cid leaving Burgos into exile, crossing the Arlanzón on his horse Babieca and raising his sword Tizona toward Valencia. Eight companion figures by Joaquín Lucarini on the Puente de San Pablo represent Doña Jimena, Álvar Fáñez and other members of his retinue. In July 2025 a parade with the Cavallers de Mio Cid of Valencia marked the statue's 70th anniversary.
The statue stands in Plaza de Mio Cid beside the San Pablo bridge over the Arlanzón, in the city centre. The eight companion figures of the Ciclo cidiano are on that bridge, a short walk away. The plaza is open ground, so the monument can be seen at any hour.
The granite pedestal carries an inscribed plaque quoting the Cantar de mio Cid: "AÑO MIO C. I. CCC. LXX. SALIO / DESDE SU VALENCIA MIO / EL CID CON BORBIDA BARBA". The monument is one of seven equestrian statues of the Cid worldwide, alongside those in New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Valencia and Seville.
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