Your story about AlicanteThe Fascinating Etymology of 'Alicante'.Navigation links. .
Your Alicante
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Your story about Alicante
Iberians: Akra Leuka Greeks and Phoenicians: Leukon Teijos (city of light) Romans: Lucentum Moors: in the inital stage Al-Luqentum with the following derivatives : Alacant and finally, Alicante.  Alicante and the Young Lovers' LegendCántara was the daughter of the reigning Caliph. Her beauty was extraordinairy.Two young nobles, Aly and Almanzor fell madly in love with her and presented themselves as possible marriage candidates. Her bewildered father, could not decide, which of the two aristocrats were more satisfactory for his daughter's hand... A TaskTo resolve the impasse he set the young men, to undertake a specific task. Allah would determine their fates.Almanzor, decided to go off to the Indies, to fill his boats with rare spices. Aly promised to dig a big water channel, thus bringing water to Alicante from Tibi. Almanzor sailed off in all haste. Aly didn't quite apply the same energy to his promised task. Instead, he wrote love poetry to Cántara. His prose woke an undying passion within her. Each day she was more attached to Aly, till finally, she was madly and passionately in love with him. She wouldn't hear about the 'set' tasks yet to be resolved. She and Aly were undeniable soul-mates. Aly was the man of her dreams. BUT Almanzor's Ships Returned...The Caliph was a man of his word.When Almanzor came to claim Cánatara: he granted Almanzor, his daughter in marriage. Aly despaired when he heard the news. All was lost, there was nothing left to live for...he flung himself off a ravine. (Legend claims that very spot, is where the Tibi Pantano was built, several centuries later.) Cántara had no desire to live without her beloved Aly. She hurled herself from the Risco de San Julián, which later became known as the Salto de la Mora (the Moorish Queen's Leap). The Caliph's WordsNothing had served the Caliph - in keeping his promise. He died broken-hearted. Anonymously, or strangely, his image appeared etched on Monte Benacantil.The Court was profondly shocked when they heard of this disaster. To immortalize the two: Aly and Cántara's named were joined, denominating the lover's city as 'Alicante.' This fascinating fairytale was provided by Anne  FREE NEWSLETTER - Alicante postcards Keep you in touch with the summer magic of the Mediterranean. Take a look on regularly updated galleries with beautiful Alicante photos.
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