The Legend of the Mora Tower

The Round tower or Mora tower is an Arabic-style tower built in the 13th century on a Roman square

base. The tower shape is octagonal, so it is unknown why its name is the Round Tower. There was a

time when the vast territory surrounding what in the future would be Cáceres was under the power of a qaid. The qaid was a great warrior who ruled and protected the fortress of Qazris from the Christian attacks.

One day, during a ceasefire, a procession accompanied by an ambassador (of the Caliph of Cordoba, his powerful and beloved Lord)came to the fortress, from the south. This visit had reason: to provide a wife for the qaid because of his courage and his victories over the Christians. The maid was a beautiful woman of the Omeya, the Caliph's own family. The qaid, very honored, decorated the streets and softened the military aspect to celebrate the wedding in the small mosque that had risen in the highest area. Soon, a passionate love spread between them that seased that union. Then, the ceasefire was finished and the Qaid abandoned his lover and Qazris, and he was engaged in a new war.

Since his leave, every evening the young wife went to the tower located at the top of the city walls, on the hill, to look for any sign of the return of her beloved husband. In her waiting, one night she noticed that in the nearby hill there was fire in a pastors house. She took her horse and departed fast toward the place. She helped the poor people who were trapped in flames. She never thought about her risks. Her feet, in contact with the fire, burned. The wounds didn’t pain and didn’t heal. Because she wasn’t able to walk, she requested that a few chambers were built in the tower where she waited for the return of her beloved husband.

Finally, there was a ceasefire again. The qaid returned, and aware of his wife's illness, he called the

best doctors. It didn’t matter if they were Muslims, Jews or Christians. But they all agreed: leprosy! The disease that inspired the most terror at those times. Not only was it an incurable desease, but it also brought shame on who had it.

The young and beautiful wife ordered, then, that her husband abandon her. But the Qaid, blinded by love, called the most courageous of their nakib, and he ordered him: "As soon as you leave this tower, you are in charge. You will order Los Alarifes to close all of the tower doors and openings, so that it does not allow air or light to enter. Defend Qazris and the lands that we have been entrusted and respond to our Caliph on anything that he orders".

The captain, obedient and respectful, did so. He locked the lovers up for eternity, as the qaid wished. This is the secret that saves the round tower, also called ochavada.