That certain place in La Mancha the name of which Miguel de Cervantes did not want to recall in the opening lines of his novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha" really does exist. Like any writer he used his own experiences and surroundings as inspiration for this particular vision of the century in which he lived. Though few and far between there are coincidences in the real life of Cervantes and that of his creation, "Don Quixote" that point to towns like Argamasilla de Alba in the province of Ciudad Real and Esquivias in Toledo as models for places and people mentioned in the book. BACK