On Thursday June 5th, we started our day by crossing the extraordinary bridge over the Rio de Órbigo. This is the site of one of the Camino's most charming tales.  It was here in 1434 that a knight by the name of Suero de Quiõnes held an elaborate jousting tournament all for the purpose of impressing a lady he had fallen in love with.  People came from across Europe to challenge Suero. Although he almost lost his life when he took a blow to the head, the knight emerged victorious with 300 broken lances. After the final joust, he removed the iron collar that he had worn as a symbol of his enslavement to love and walked the Camino de Santiago as a pilgrim.

Every year in honor of this history, the town puts on a giant Renaissance fair with the main event being a jousting tournament on the bridge.  The town had already begun preparing for the celebration. The bridge is lined with flags and bleachers are set up next to the bridge for spectators.

The bridge itself is an example of a gothic structure although it has had numerous renovations over the years.  Almost all of the arches were built in different time periods because of the damage it has sustained over the years. In the 19th century, two of the arches were blown up to discourage Napoleon's invading army from entering the town.  Luckily, all of the arches have been reconstructed in the original style.