Spain. Province of Madrid. Madrid. Plaza (Place) Espana. Statues of Don Quijote de la Mancha and his companion Sancho Panza. "The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha" is an early novel written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. The protagonist, Alonso Quixano, is a landowner who has read so many stories of chivalry that he descends into fantasy and becomes convinced he is a knight errant. Together with his companion Sancho Panza, the self-styled Don Quixote de la Mancha sets out in search of adventures. Horse and donkey. Downtown. Town center. © 2007 Didier Ruef