Being in Ona and being one of the few to have had the pleasure to watch this play was intense! I could not wrap my head around the history behind the story being portrayed in the monastery and the fact that the history took place there!

I wanted to give you a little recap on the actual play and what it was about:

The story took place in the regions of northern Spain called Castilla and Leon. Burgos is the capital of Castilla y Leon now.

The story begins in the year 970 when king Fernan Gonzalez of Castilla y Leon died. He left his land to his son Garci Fernando whom died after fighting against the almighty Almanzor (Muslin ruler that was taking over all of Spain and converting the religion to from catholic to muslim).

Garci Fernando had 2 sons and decided to split the land of Castilla and Leon between both of them. Sancho Garcia his son took control of Castilla and Garci Fernandez his other son took control of Leon. After years of peace between the muslims and the catholic kings of Castilla and Leon the fight began again. In 1002 king Sancho won against the Almanzor and started to take control once again of other regions in Spain, spreading the catholic religion once again. It was one of the biggest victories that Spain has seen in its history since Almanzor had been undefeated for decades.

During the time of peace in the year 1011 Sancho and his queen founded the Monestario de Ona (the monastery in the pics) for their daughter Tigrida. Sancho also had a son, that when he passed away in 1017 took over the ruling of Castilla. Sancho was assacinated by his own brother the king of Leon because he wanted to have the power over the entire region. El Cid (Spain's national hero, and soldier for Sancho) knew that his brother had poisoned Sancho, and in front of the church did not bow to Sancho's brother and said he would not serve his army because he continued to lie about killing his own fresh and blood. El Cid then went on to fight against Sancho's brother because he could not be loyal to an liar. Some of the most recognized battles of this time were led my El Cid.

Even though the king of Leon wanted to be burried in the Monastery, it was denied by Sancho's family since they all knew what he had done. Sancho, his wife, daughter, and son were all burried there along with 4 other kings and their queens of Castilla that reined after Sancho.

It was the best play I have ever watched and has now been declared "Fiesta de Interes Turistico Regional", which is a huge honor for any town in Spain.