The 14th century Gate of San Martín, whose name is derived from the name of the Church of San Martín (now not longer extant), was one of the original gates in the walls of the old city. It used to connect the city with the Jewish quarter, which is the reason why this gate is also known as Jewish Gate.
It is a horseshoe shaped-arch, fashioned in the architectural style most consistently popular at the time. It was built by Mudéjar master builders using materials such as brick and stone masonry, which they combined with dressed stone. There are two cubes at the sides of the arch which seem to perform a defensive function. The Solar del Cid is located at a distance of 10 metres.
El Cantar de Mío Cid relates that El Cid camped with a group of men on the outskirts of the city and, being in a precarious financial condition, made arrangements to deceive two Jewish moneylenders, Raquel and Vidas. He raised the money with the help of Martín Antolínez, who had to make his way through one of the gates of the old city walls at night. It seems, therefore, quite logical to conclude that the poet meant the entrance through the Gate of San Martín, for the gate, though different in terms of architectural style, marked the entrance to the Jewish quarter in the 12th century. At the time the quarter occupied a sizable area on the outskirts of the city. Jews would later move inside the city’s outer walls.
Visits: free admission.
Rev. PAB 26.12.18
