Panoramic View and the Legend of the Cara del Moro

The legend of the Cara del Moro, in Alicante

Going back down from the castle through the park of the Ereta, you enjoy fine views over the sparkling bay of Alicante and you discover the legend of the Cara del Moro, the face of the Moor drawn in the mountain. The Alicante audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this tragic romance of the Muslim era, that explains the profile of stone turned forever towards the slopes of the Benacantil.

The tragic romance of Zahara

Taking the park of the Ereta to go back down towards the old town offers you fine overall views over the sparkling bay of Alicante. The balconies and the viewpoints are numerous on the way, so take your time. While you admire the panorama, let me tell you the legend of the Cara del Moro, the famous face of the Moor. The legend takes place in the Muslim era, in the fortress where a governor and his daughter, Zahara, of a great beauty, lived. The beauty not wanting to marry, her father organised a reception gathering all the acceptable suitors of the kingdom. But among them had slipped a young Christian, who happened to be the son of the sworn enemy of the governor. As in any good drama, the young forbidden lovers fell madly in love and planned to flee. Alas, the young man was arrested and condemned to death. Desperate, Zahara refused to drink and to eat. Her father then made her a promise: if the next day the slopes of the Benacantil appeared all dressed in white, he would pardon her beloved; if not, she would have to marry a prince. Now, in the morning, the mountain had covered itself with white, not with snow, but with the blossoming of the almond trees. Zahara ran towards her father, but discovered on the way the lifeless body of her betrothed: her father had not kept his word. Mad with grief, she threw herself from the summit. Seized with remorse, the father begged the heavens to punish him, and he was then changed into stone, his face turned forever towards the slope, recalling that what is promised must be accomplished. A legend of love and a window over the bay, the Cara del Moro is a fine stop of the discovery of Alicante.

What to see

Here you enjoy, from the park of the Ereta, fine overall views over the sparkling bay of Alicante, marked by balconies and viewpoints; you discover above all the legend of the Cara del Moro, the face of stone of the Moor drawn in the mount Benacantil, born from a tragic romance of the Muslim era between the beautiful Zahara and a young Christian. The Cara del Moro is one of the legends of Alicante. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The park of the Ereta is tiered on the slopes of the mount Benacantil, between the castle of Santa Bárbara and the old town of Alicante, reachable on foot. It is an open-air park freely accessible, marked by belvederes over the bay; from below, you make out the silhouette of the Cara del Moro in the relief. You walk through it during the descent from the castle.

What is the Cara del Moro in Alicante?

It is the face of the Moor, a profile of a man drawn in the relief of the mount Benacantil under the castle; the legend tells that it is a governor of the Muslim era changed into stone out of remorse, after having betrayed his promise and caused the death of his daughter Zahara and her Christian lover, his face turned forever towards the slope where she threw herself.

Where to see the Cara del Moro in Alicante?

In the relief of the mount Benacantil, under the castle of Santa Bárbara, that you discover notably from the park of the Ereta, in Alicante, in Spain.