# El Provencio > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/El_Provencio > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/El_Provencio.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Provencio > Source revision: 1356095829 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox settlement |settlement_type = town and municipality |official_name = El Provencio, Cuenca |image_map = Provenciomap.png |map_caption = Map of El Provencio. | pushpin_map = Spain#Spain Castilla-La Mancha | pushpin_relief = 1 |subdivision_type = [Country](/source/Countries_of_the_world) |subdivision_name = [Spain](/source/Spain) |subdivision_type1 = [Autonomous community](/source/Autonomous_communities_of_Spain) |subdivision_name1 = [Castile-La Mancha](/source/Castile-La_Mancha) |subdivision_type2 = [Province](/source/Provinces_of_Spain) |subdivision_name2 = [Cuenca](/source/Province_of_Cuenca) |image_shield = Escudo de El Provencio.svg |leader_title = [Mayor](/source/Mayor) |area_land_km2 = 101.6 |leader_name = |population_note = |population_as_of = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}} | population_footnotes = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}} |population_total = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}} |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone = [UTC+1](/source/UTC%2B1) |utc_offset = +1 |coordinates ={{coord|39|22|N|2|34|W|region:ES_type:city|display=title,inline}} }} '''El Provencio''' is a small town and [municipality](/source/municipality) in [Cuenca](/source/Province_of_Cuenca), Spain with a population of 2,367 permanent inhabitants (2022 estimate). It has kept much of its medieval heritage and is on the newly planted trail that marks the route followed by the title character of [Miguel de Cervantes](/source/Miguel_de_Cervantes)'s novel ''[Don Quixote](/source/Don_Quixote)''. El Provencio sits in the extreme southern area of Cuenca, bordering both [Albacete](/source/Albacete) and [Ciudad Real](/source/Ciudad_Real). The major highway linking the town to the rest of Spain is the National 301 Madrid - Cartagena, and it is about 81 kilometers south of the city of [Cuenca](/source/Cuenca%2C_Spain). ==History== The reason for the foundation of El Provencio, by [Infante Don Juan Manuel](/source/Juan_Manuel%2C_Prince_of_Villena), is attributed to the existence of the [Zancara River](/source/Zancara_River) as a source of water. El Provencio could have been founded as early as 1318, the earliest date available which refers to the foundation of the town. Don Juan Manuel was at the time Lord of [Alarcón](/source/Alarc%C3%B3n) and was regent of [Murcia](/source/Murcia), and was related in many ways to various kings on the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula). He is considered one of the Spanish warriors of the [Reconquista](/source/Reconquista) and is known for his campaigns of terror, and was also known for the foundation of settlements throughout the area. One of these came to be known as El Provencio, which was situated between [Murcia](/source/Murcia) and the regions owned by Spanish religious orders. Don Juan Manuel married the daughter of King [James II of Aragon](/source/James_II_of_Aragon), which linked the kingdom of [Aragon](/source/Aragon) to El Provencio. Don Alfonso of Aragon became the first count of this Castilian area. ==References== {{reflist}} ''Proyecto de Turismo Rural de El Provencio,'' Ayuntamiento del el Provencio {{Municipalities in Cuenca}} {{Municipalities of Spain}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Provencio, El}} Category:Municipalities in the Province of Cuenca {{cuenca-geo-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [El Provencio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Provencio) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Provencio?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.