June 23rd Rojales mountain walk on Saint John´s night

Rojales mountain walk on Saint John´s night

On June 23rd, the Department of Youth of Rojales is organizing a walk to the “Cabecico Soler” mountain. Starting at 10 pm, the event marks the magic night of Saint John (San Juan), when hopes are renewed and bad omens are left behind.

Participants of the walk will pay tribute to the “Leyenda de la Encantá”, a group of oral traditions and mythological legends set in the municipality of Rojales, to which Ciudad Quesada belongs.

The protagonist of the tradition is an Arabic princess named Zulaida who fell in love with a Christian prince. This upset the Arab king, who condemned his daughter to live forever inside the mountain called Cabezo Soler, by the river Segura, between Rojales and Guardamar.

Every year, on Saint John´s night, the princess – la Encantá – is said to show up at the mountain called Cabecico Soler waiting for someone to set her free. If a brave man encounters her, the girl will ask him to carry her in his arms to the river Segura so that she can bath her feet and break the curse.

On Saint John´s night, the residents of Rojales walk up the “Cabezo Soler” where a bonfire is lit for people to jump over the fire.