Located on the Mancha Alta southwest of Cuenca, is Horcajo de Santiago, Manchego Renaissance style villa belonging to the Order of Santiago, with a current population of over 4,000.

Its etymology is defined by its crossroads between Almanzor and Albardana rivers, crossing the municipality by a Royal Cañada. The cause called "Horcajo" was by its topography, and indicating a cavalier position on a hill that descends towards two vegas, so the village is a "straddle".

There are concerns about what might be the origin of the town. The hypothesis that is closest to its source is the researcher Anselmo Serrano Sanz affirming the existence of the Order of Santiago and the place called "El Horcajo" before the reconquest of Cuenca (1177). That's when Alfonso VIII Castle Uclés delivery to Santiaguista to defend the region of the inputs of the Moors, provided to make this convent of the Order Header.

In commemoration of this, Horcajo de Santiago has defended the fourth vow of the Order of Santiago, giving rise to one of the most important festivals of the region: EL VÍTOR.

Notably the wilderness of Belmontejo, since the fifteenth century is part of the term of Horcajo de Santiago. Its location is at the confluence of the rivers Bedija and Riánsares.

History has drawn silhouette of this village in the layout of its streets, the architecture of the typical cave called the Holy and Boleo, numerous manors and renowned as the Casa de la Cadena and location of their hermitages as ID of different neighborhoods that make up the municipality.

Source: Web City of Horcajo de Santiago, extracted from Horcajada Angel Garrido. "Huellas del Pasado"