Dulcinea is a fictional character in Cervantes' novel Don Quixote.

Also known as:

  • Dulcinea del Toboso
  • Aldonza Lorenzo
  • Aldonza de Toboso.

Don Quixote imagines the peasant Aldonza to be a princess and calls her Dulcinea, from dulce, "sweet". In reality, she is a rude peasant. Don Quixote tells himself that she has been charmed by an evil sorcerer.

In cinema, she has been placed by (among others) Sofia Loren and Vanessa Williams. In the musical, she is a self described whore.