At the age of 12 Guzmán leaves Seville and sets out on a long journey which, after a number of misadventures, takes him to Madrid, Genoa and Rome, before he returns to his home town. The young boy first lives the life of a rascal and learns to beg, but later he will also become a pageboy to a number of important individuals. During his journey Guzmán is often involved in unpleasant situations, but, in the end, he always manages to redeem himself.