The Passadiços do Cerro da Candosa

The legend of Our Lady of Candosa, also known as Cerro da Candosa, is passed down by older people as an heirloom from their ancestors. The story takes place in a time when the Moors roamed the lands, and the central character was a Moor who converted to Christianity. This Moor lived a life of abundance and tranquility in the fertile valleys, where he hunted, fished, and gathered chestnuts from the many chestnut trees.

His peaceful existence aroused the jealousy of other unconverted Moors, who sought to thwart him. They attempted to drown him by flooding the valley. With all their might, they mobilized the Mourama, a group of men, women, and children, to build a dam at the Ceira River.

The Moor in charge of building the dam was full of optimism, but every time the wall was nearly completed, something mysterious happened at night: the wall disappeared without a trace of destruction. This repeated itself time and again, despite increased efforts and vigilance.

In desperation, the Moor realized that divine forces were protecting his life and land. He went to the Christian Moor in the area and sought peace, acknowledging that their God was protecting him. Together, they decided to build a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Candosa on top of the hill.

Since then, the valleys have remained blessed, and people still come to Cerro da Candosa to seek protection from Our Lady, especially in times of need.

The word “candosa” can have various meanings, ranging from “radiant lady” to “stones,” referring to the construction of the chapel and the dam.

The legend of the two roses tells of the Cabril Strait that separated two kingdoms: the Moorish and the Christian. On one side of the River Ceira, known as Candosa, lived Al-Kandar, a Moor, while on the other side resided the Christian community. A beautiful princess from the Moorish kingdom fell hopelessly in love with the son of the Christian king. Despite their love, they faced the relentless rivalry between their parents.

In utmost secrecy, they met each other at night in a cave, which still exists. A burning lamp served as the signal for the Christian prince, who crossed the river to meet his beloved.

On a fateful night, the Moorish king discovered his daughter was missing. He immediately sent his guards to find her. Upon hearing the approaching horses, the lovers attempted to flee, but during their escape, they fell into the river and drowned. The next day, they were found embracing as if to emphasize that their love was stronger than their parents’ rivalry.

Since that tragic day, people claim that every night at full moon, at midnight, voices and whispers can be heard at the site of the tragedy. Two roses are seen floating on the water of the river. Hence the name “Legend of the Two Roses”.