The Legend of the Arch of the Christ

The following legend happened at the foot of the oldest preserved door in the city of Cáceres. Dating from the 1st century, it is known as the gateway to the river or arc of Christ. The dim light of a streetlamp illuminates a small niche that is home to the Crucified Christ. The size, since immemorial time seems to guard the entrance to the city.

Tradition details that in the 15th century, in times of the Catholic Kings, there were two young gentlemen who met a beautiful lady at a reception in the palace of the Alderman. The knights were Don Gutierre de Saavedra and Don Fernán de Perero. The lady is called Doña Inés de Aldana, daughter of the noble Don Rodrigo de Aldana and Doña Juana. According to the legend, the gentlemen noticed that they were both falling in love with her. After several confrontations with the young woman, they considered that the only way to settle the dispute was to fight; the winner would marry Doña Inés. For the fatal event, the venue was the arch of the Christ. It occurred in the solitude of a dark night at the feet of the Crucified Christ, illuminated by the dim candle light.. The knights prepared their weapons for the deadly dispute and began the duel. But before the clash of steel in the first crossing of swords, the candle went out in absolute darkness, so they decided to lower their weapons. Nonetheless, they stopped in their struggle. The candle illuminated again so they decided to continue with the duel. One more time, after a new stake, the candle began to blink and went out to the surprise of the knights (who lowered their weapons), they thought that some air flow would stop blowing out the candle.

A third time, they crossed their swords and the clash of the swords to got rid of the light, and when separated the light returned . Amazement turned their thoughts to the niche that existed in the arch, and at that same moment, both felt that Christ seemed to be looking at them. They understood that it was a signal and not worth shedding blood for a lady, no matter how beautiful she is. They thought that it would be best for Doña Inés to choose which of the two suitors would win. At that same moment, they decided to head toward the palace of the Aldana. They were talking when suddenly one commanded silence the other. In the middle of the silence of the night they listened to the whisper of two people talking in a low voice. When they peered around the corner, they saw Doña Ines overlooking the window, saying goodbye to a young man who descended the palace by a rope. When they view the scene, both gentlemen realized that the Doña Ines heart already had an owner and that this fatal confrontation would have helped little. For all these reasons, they were grateful to the Crucified Christ. At that very moment, both swore that henceforth the light should never go out before Christ. The

families of Gutierre de Saavedra and Perero, would be responsible for the doorway always being

illuminated, and in this way both, the cross and the door, need to be lit every night. First it was lit with candles and later with electric light.