The Legend of the House of the Monkey

The House of the Monkey (or Pizarro-Espadero House) is a gothic building, located in the monumental zone of Cáceres. It gets its name from the legends that circulate around its first inhabitants. A legend, perhaps the most widespread,describes a marriage from the 15th century lived in this house, a marriage of rich burghers between Gonzalo de Cáceres and the beautiful Marina Alonso de los Nidos. Their marriage was desperate, because they were unable to conceive a child. The salesman Gonzalo spent long seasons traveling while Marina was left alone surrounded by a multitude of servants. Gonzalo bought a monkey during one of his extensive trips in America, in order to cheer her. The monkey became the center of attention in the house. As if it were a child, being pampered the monkey even had a bedroom with toys. During one of Gonzalo's absences, (on the occasion of another trip), a handsome knight knocked at the door of the house asking for shelter for the night; Marina agreed, and what happened in the alcove we will never know. When the husband returned home, he received the good news that Marina was pregnant. The arrival of the baby filled them with happiness, well, all except the monkey, which had ceased to be the center of attention. The jealous monkey, being neglected by the family, picked up the small baby and threw it out the window, killing him instantly. Marina plunged into a deep depression agonized crying in the corners; she died shortly thereafter. Gonzalo, furious with the monkey, shackled the monkey next of the ladder to the house so that it could have a slow and painful

death. Shortly after, he died of starvation and from the wounds caused by the shackles at his hands, feet, and neck.

Not long ago, there are some neighbors that say that certain nights, when passing through the gate of the palace you can hear the cries of a baby and the cries of pain of what appears to be a monkey. Currently, in the facade of the house we can observe three gargoyles that recreate the legend: a woman crying, an old man, and an ape with a child. Inside, the top of the handrail on the main staircase has the sculpture of a chained monkey. In addition, there is a figure of a disturbing face that vomes from to a window next to the railing, where the monkey was tied.