The long struggle between Christians and Muslims is the backdrop for a touching legend about love and Zuleima, the daughter of a holy Muslim man.
She fell in love with Ben-Zail, the son of an old leader. But because of their youth and the times they lived in, they couldn’t marry right away. Ben-Zail promised to come back once he finished his duties in battle.
When he returned, Ben-Zail was suffering from leprosy and died soon after. Around the same time, the famous Christian hero El Cid and his soldiers arrived in Polop. Zuleima’s father asked El Cid to protect his daughter from the soldiers’ harsh behaviour.
One night, when El Cid stayed at the sanctuary, he found Zuleima’s body with a dagger in her heart. In her memory, El Cid ordered his men never to harm any woman. Out of respect for her, he chose to sleep in a nearby cave rather than the sanctuary. This cave now known as “La Cueva del Cid” (El Cid’s Cave) is near Elda.
Stories like this are common in the towns along the Costa Blanca. They invite visitors to imagine a distant past filled with pirates, knights, and tragic love, making a visit to these villages even more special.
