Legend of Marofa

The expulsion of Jews was decreed in Spain and Castelo Rodrigo was one of the five regions designated by our King to accommodate them. Among the refugees was one known as Zacuto, very rich, who settled on the slopes of Castelo Rodrigo. A widower, he lived with his only daughter, Ofa, who was heiress to his entire fortune. For that reason, they started to call that land the Jewess Ofa mountaina. Luís, a young nobleman who lived in Cinco Vilas, heard of this and wanted to meet the beautiful Jewess, heiress to such a large fortune. When they met, the two young people felt an immediate attraction for one another and a burning desire to unite their lives was born. Soon after, the King of Portugal, Manuel I, ordered the expulsion of all Jews from the Kingdom if they did not convert to Christianity. Much to Luis’ joy, the old Jew and his daughter complied with the royal decision. Anytime his mother or friends asked where he was going, the Cinco Vilas nobleman would fill his chest with joy and respond: “I am going to love on Ofa (PT=amar Ofa)” or “I am off to see my love, Ofa (Pt=meu amor Ofa)”.
Tradition says that the mountain range was then known as Marofa mountains in the innocent imitation of Luis’ responses.