The legend of the Kiss

When Napoleon's French army invaded the city of Toledo (1808-1812), they began to occupy places to accommodate themselves in the city, including convents and churches. A large group of soldiers were housed in the Convent of San Pedro Mártir, one of the largest buildings in the city, located in the center, not far from the Cathedral. They spent their first night there.

The next morning, the captain of this troop, who was staying at this convent, met up at the Plaza de Zocodover to meet up with other classmates, who knew he was in Toledo. When they asked him how the night had gone, the captain told them that it had been a long one, that he had not been able to sleep because he was so worried about being next to a beautiful lady, a woman who had been motionless before him all night and who neither saw nor spoke nor heard. It was clear that he was referring to a marble sculpture, but due to the perfection of its sculptor when carving it, it seemed to come to life. Laughter resounded throughout the Plaza de Zocodover, and everyone agreed to go that night so that he could introduce them to this beautiful lady.

When the time came for the meeting, everyone went to the church of the convent where the captain and the rest of the troop were staying. They lit a fire in the centre, as the night was quite cold, and, opening a few bottles of wine, they prepared to spend the night.

When the wine had taken effect, the captain, half-staggering, went to the stone tomb of his beloved, Doña Elvira. He drank another sip of wine and, without thinking, brought his lips close to the cold, stony lips of Doña Elvira. His companions warned him to stop playing with the dead and let them rest.

Just as their lips touched, the stone hand of the warrior statue next to him hit him so hard that he was thrown to the ground. The warrior was her husband and both of them rest together for eternity in the church of the Convent of San Pedro Mártir.

Location: UCLM University Campus, San Pedro Mártir building, in its church.