If you stroll through the lovely town of Guadalest, tucked inland in the Alicante province, you might hear the soft sighs of Zoraima, a young Muslim woman who died with her lover during a siege at the town’s castle.
Zoraima was the beautiful daughter of a Muslim judge living near Guadalest. A Christian knight, Guzmán de Benidorm, wanted to win her heart, but she didn’t love him. She was in love with Ben Yufur, a brave Muslim warrior who had defeated Christian troops in many battles.
Worried that Guzmán’s anger could bring trouble, Zoraima’s father sent her and all their belongings to the castle at Guadalest. Her lover Ben Yufur ended up there too after a fierce battle that wiped out most of the army.
According to the legend, Ben Yufur’s fate was decided by Allah: he would die the moment a beautiful woman kissed him. When Zoraima kissed him, a bullet pierced his heart. He died holding her in his arms.
People in Guadalest say that even today, Zoraima’s sighs are carried on the wind, echoing through the nearby Aitana mountains.
