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The Demon House on Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona

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One of the houses on Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona city is often called the Demon house because of the rumors about what went on inside the house. According to the legends, it was a place where some stray priests dabbled in the occult, exorcism and possible demonic arts. 

In the shadows of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter you’ll stumble upon a street that harbors a chilling secret. Carrer dels Mirallers, a seemingly unassuming thoroughfare, hides a dark history that has fascinated locals and paranormal enthusiasts for centuries. Known as the Demon House, this enigmatic residence has long been shrouded in mystery, with tales of supernatural phenomena and eerie occurrences circulating among those brave enough to venture near. 

The Legend and History Behind the Demon House

Carrer dels Mirallers, or Mirror Makers Street, is located in Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter, a neighborhood steeped in history and folklore. While the street where they used to make mirrors itself may not appear out of the ordinary, it is the stories associated with one particular house that have given it its ominous reputation. The Demon House on No. 7, as it is commonly known, stands as a testament to the dark and mysterious past of the area.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

One of the buildings on Carrer dels Mirallers is adorned by the head of a woman, signaling that the house at number seven used to be a brothel back in its day. This connection to the world of vice and sin adds an eerie undertone to the already haunting atmosphere surrounding the Demon House. The building’s history as a den of debauchery only scratches the surface of the mysteries that lie within its walls.

The Home of Jacint Verdaguer

Another notable figure associated with the Demon House is Jacint Verdaguer, a famous and renowned Catalan poet living on the 4th floor. Verdaguer lived in the house for a period of time, and his presence has left an indelible mark on the building’s history. While Verdaguer was known for his literary contributions, he also had a penchant for dabbling in the supernatural.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

In 1870 he decided on another path and became a priest. He was not a priest of the strictest sense of priests however and according to legends, he started to perform exorcisms on people and places.

The Exorcist Priest: Portrait of Jacint Verdaguer by Ramon Casas.

Jacint Verdaguer became acquainted with Father Joaquim Pinyol after a pilgrimage to the holy land that changed him completely. Father Pinyol was obsessed with demons he saw in the city. He founded the Oracion in the street and it became the center for exorcisms and the fight against the devil. And soon Verdaguer joined in. 

Verdaguer was not a priest in the strictest sense, but according to legends, he started to perform exorcisms on people and places. The walls of the Demon House are said to have witnessed Verdaguer’s attempts to banish demonic forces from within. Whether these exorcisms were successful or not remains a mystery, but the stories surrounding Verdaguer’s involvement in the occult only serve to heighten the enigma surrounding the Demon House.

The Exorcisms on Carrer dels Mirallers

The exorcisms that have happened inside of the house, turned out to be quite brutal. They brought the sick into a room decorated like an oratory. They ran riot and the sick ended up eating morsels of glass and needles as they shouted about heaven and hell and everything that was there. 

There were prayers and the next day the priests would mark their lips with a large medal and the people would take out the needles and everything else they had swallowed the day before. 

The Haunted House on No. 7

Of all the houses on Carrer dels Mirallers, the number seven house holds a particularly sinister reputation. It is believed to be haunted by demonic spirits, and those who have ventured inside have reported chilling encounters and unexplained phenomena. The air inside the house is said to be heavy with an otherworldly presence, and visitors often feel an overwhelming sense of unease.

It is said that Verdaguer got too into the dark arts and managed to invoke a demon inside of the house in one of his scenes. It is said that it is still trapped in the house today. 

The Enduring Allure of the Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House

The Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House continues to captivate the imaginations of locals and visitors alike. Its rich history, intertwined with tales of the supernatural, has earned it a place in Barcelona’s folklore. Whether you believe in ghosts and demons or not, there is no denying the eerie allure of the Demon House.

As you wander through the Gothic Quarter, take a moment to pause outside the Demon House. Listen closely, and you may catch a whisper carried on the wind or glimpse a fleeting shadow out of the corner of your eye. The mysteries of the Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House may never be fully unraveled, but that only adds to its enduring fascination.

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una casa per fer exorcismes

Barcelona’s most haunted places – Coffee and Caminos

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The Dark Side of Christmas: The Haunting Legend of Krampus and Krampusnacht

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By Santa’s side, you will sometimes find his evil companion, Krampus, finding children and punishing them if they have been bad. But who really is this monster, coming after you on Krampusnacht.

When we think of Christmas, images of jolly Santa Claus, reindeer, and brightly wrapped presents come to mind. Family gathers for meals by the Christmas tree and it is all around a jolly festivity. However, nestled within the festive cheer of December lies a darker, more sinister figure from Alpine folklore: Krampus. This half-goat, half-demon creature is said to haunt the Christmas season that starts early in December in some parts of Europe, offering a chilling contrast to the joyous celebrations.

Origins of Krampus from the European Alps

Krampus’ origins can be traced back to pre-Christian Alpine traditions, stretching through many European countries, where he was believed to be a pagan entity associated with winter and inspired by the mythological creature of Perchten or Straggele. The tradition of Krampus has often mostly been celebrated in Austria, Hungary and Germany, but there are also cases in the surrounding alpine countries.

Krampus is thought to come from either Bavarian: krampn, meaning “dead”, “rotten”, or from the German: kramp/krampen, meaning “claw”. Where does he come from? Some say that he is the son of Hel in Norse mythology, popularized by an American artist, and it also shares some things with satyrs and fauns from Greek mythology. Krampus is typically depicted with long, curved horns, a lolling tongue, and a body covered in fur. Chains and bells often hang from his body, symbolizing the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church.

As Christianity spread through Europe, Krampus was incorporated into Christian traditions, specifically as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas and this is really where his popularity and lore took off. Perhaps losing a bit of his pagan touch like a pan-like creature, morphing into something more devilish.  

While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus punishes those who have been naughty, beating them with a stick, stuffing them in a sack and taking them away. A sort of St. Nicholas helper. This duality embodies the balance between reward and punishment, good and evil, that pervades much of folklore.

The Night of Krampus: Krampusnacht

On the night of December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, the demon emerges to roam the streets. In towns across Austria, Germany, and other parts of Europe, men dress up as Krampus and participate in parades known as Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run. During these events, the costumed figures terrorize onlookers with their ghastly appearances and playful, yet alarming antics.

This is based on the old legend of how the young men with their cow bells and sticks disperse the winter’s ghosts.

According to legend, Krampus carries a bundle of birch sticks to swat naughty children and a sack or basket on his back to cart off those he deems particularly bad. The threat of being caught by Krampus is meant to encourage good behavior among children, serving as a dark reminder of the consequences of misdeeds.

Read More: Check out all haunted legends from the Christmas Season

Although the tradition has started to pick up again, it wasn’t always like it. After the first world war they started to ban Krampus traditions and for a time, they almost disappeared entirely. 

Krampuslauf: From the Krampus run in 2010 where around 300 scary, dark figures strolled around the Grazer Krampuslauf and were accompanied by a heavy snowfall and numerous visitors through the Grazer Herrengasse.

The Modern Krampus

In recent years, Krampus has experienced a resurgence in popularity, crossing over into mainstream culture. Why? Is it how Europeans are connecting more with their pagan roots? Perhaps because of how modern society is diverting more and more from its classic christian and religious connotations? Perhaps throughout the years he has turned more devil-like than goat-like, especially in popular culture. 

Horror films, books, and television shows have introduced Krampus to new audiences, solidifying his role as a dark counterbalance to the merriment of Christmas. While many still celebrate Krampusnacht with traditional parades and festivities, the legend of Krampus has also sparked a fascination with the more macabre aspects of the holiday season.

Krampus Postcards: For a time it was very popular to send Christmas cards of Krampus, in his usual habitat where he was punishing children. There were also many grown up themes with having Krampus as a boyfriend and the likes.

A Throwback to Ancient Christmas Times

Krampus stands as a stark reminder that Christmas is not solely a time of joy and generosity. His haunting presence and the eerie stories that surround him add a layer of complexity to the festive season, blending ancient folklore with modern traditions. 

Whether viewed as a cautionary figure or a symbol of the darker side of human nature, Krampus continues to captivate and terrify, ensuring that the spirit of Christmas is never taken for granted. To appease him, it is said you should offer him some Schnapps. As the night of Krampusnacht approaches, remember to be on your best behavior, for you never know when the demon of Christmas might pay you a visit.

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References:

Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus’s Scary Christmas Counterpart 

Krampus – Wikipedia 

The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa | Smithsonian 

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The Mystery of the Haunted Vallecas Case and the Death of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro

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The Vallecas Case and the Death of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro was a case that left the Madrid police puzzled and the case was left unsolved. Just before and after the death of their daughter the family experienced strange things happening that they believed happened because her interest in the occult and that Estefania might have been possessed.

It’s a story that has captivated the world for decades- the terrifying tale of the Haunted Vallecas case in Spain and the death of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro. In 1991, a family in the Vallecas district of Madrid claimed that their apartment was haunted by a malevolent spirit. Over the course of several weeks, they experienced a series of chilling incidents, including unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and even physical attacks that ended in the death of one of their daughters. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The Vallecas case attracted widespread attention from paranormal experts, skeptics, and the media alike, with many attempting to uncover the truth behind the haunting. But even now, more than 30 years later, the Haunted Vallecas case remains shrouded in mystery, with many questions left unanswered. 

Background of the Haunted Vallecas House

The Haunted Vallecas case took place in a modest apartment building located in the Vallecas district of Madrid, Spain. The specific place the hauntings happened was in an apartment on Calle Luis Marin No. 8.

The people living there had a teenage daughter called Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro that lived in the apartment together with her siblings and parents. She was 18 years old and had started to get into spiritualism in the time leading up to the hauntings, and she was especially into ouija boards. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro used to organize some of her own sessions as well. Once she was playing the game with her friends at school when a teacher found them. They had been trying to contact the boyfriend of one of her friends that had died in a motorcycle accident. The teacher tore the Ouija board apart and the girls claimed to see smoke coming from the glass they had played with, and the friends claimed that Estefania inhaled it. 

The Start of Strange Happenings After the Ouija Board Session

The haunting of the Vallecas apartment began after this incident. Estefania started to suffer from insomnia and she had hallucinations and epileptic seizures no one could explain. Her parents tried to bring her to different hospitals, but nothing seems to work. 

The Haunted Vallecas Case: The tragic death of the teenager Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro from Madrid turned into a paranormal mystery.

Believers of the supernatural came to believe that the young girl was possessed after messing with the occult, something of a satanic panic that were common in the 80s and 90s. One of the theories was that the grandfather of the family wanted to take revenge on his daughter as they didn’t end things on good terms. 

She claimed she saw shadows of strange human forms in the night. They had no face and asked her to come with them. To where they were taking her she was unsure of.

The strange things continued to escalate to July 13th in 1991 when she attacked her sister Magdalena. The next day, Estefania had a seizure and was taken to the Gregorio Maraño Hospital in Madrid when she was already in a coma. She died the very same night, although the autopsy remained inconclusive and claimed it was a sudden and suspicious death. 

The Haunting of the Family of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro

But the strange things in the apartment didn’t stop after Estefanias death. On the contrary, it escalated until it drove the family from their home. 

Soon after, the family claimed to hear strange noises coming from inside the walls of their apartment. They heard knocking, scratching, and even whispers. According to Juan Pedro, the sounds were so loud that they could be heard throughout the building. The family also claimed to see strange shadows moving around their home, and objects began to move on their own.

The mother climbed to hear the screaming voice of Estefania that called for her, as well as what sounded like an old man laughing. 

Glass would break, doors would open and close and objects would move, all without anyone touching it. The daughters would wake up with their wrists slammed against the wall. In 1992 Gutierrez called the police and a team led by inspector Jose Negri arrived on November 27th. The parents and children had run out of the building, even though it was pouring rain, they were terrified. They claimed that a huge shadow was watching them from the hallway and their crucifixes in the house moved. 

The Investigation of the Vallecas Case Begins

The police went into the apartment and started the investigation. It is this report that has caught the attention of occultists ever since. The police claimed that the wardrobe door opened by itself, even though it was locked, and almost hit the face of one of the agents. 

Loud noises came from the balcony, even though there was no one there. Strangest was the brown slime that hung on a bedside table no one knew where it came from. 

A crucifix that hung on the wall kept falling down to the ground. The police officers left the scene soon after, knowing that they couldn’t do anything about it. 

Two years after Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro death, on the 1st of November in 1993, a picture of her that hung on the wall in the living room caught fire. Only her face. The frame or other objects weren’t burned. The family soon sold the apartment and moved away. The people that took over are said to never have experienced something similar. 

Haunting After her Death: After Estefanía’s death, paranormal phenomena intensified in the Vallecas apartment. Concepción claimed to have seen upside-down crucifixes , glass shattering for no apparent reason, and heard her deceased daughter’s voice. Doors opening and closing on their own were common occurrences.

What Really Happened in the Vallecas Apartment?

Although the Vallecas case is one of the more famous cases to explore paranormal phenomena in Spain, there have also been put forward other theories to explain it all. As one of the taxi drivers in the neighborhood said once: They often talked about the case and agreed that there was something wrong with the family.

The first thing is the psychological factors that were at play within the family. Her mother was examined and she was found emotionally unstable and anxious with a need for attention. Could she have something to do with the hauntings that happened? Could she have exaggerated their experiences, or at worst, even constructed some of them?

An interesting thing is that when they interviewed Ricardo and Maximiliano Gutierres, two of Estefanas brothers, they rejected the idea that she was possessed by the devil. They spoke out about what happened and their sister together with the police inspector in 2018. They said that she had epilepsy, as well as their mother and that there was nothing supernatural about her. 

Crime Scene: Photo from the crime scene at EEstefania Gutierrez Lazaro’s home after her death and the events that occurred there. The medical report only indicated “sudden and suspicious death,” as coroner Pedro Cabezas put it.

Although she wasn’t diagnosed, she was taking medication for it. There were things the brothers were unable to explain, but even the thing about the burned picture they didn’t rule out the possibility that some of their family could be behind. 

Her sister Manuela claims that what they told back then was the real deal and that something more than just an illness had taken hold of their sister and apartment. 

The strange thing is the police investigation who knew nothing of the house before they entered and relayed a lot of what the family had experienced over the years in their official police report. 

The Legacy of the Haunted Vallecas Case

The Haunted Vallecas case has had a lasting impact on paranormal research and investigation. It has become one of the most well-known and studied cases in the field of parapsychology, with many experts using it as a reference point in their work.

The Vallecas case has also inspired countless books, movies, and television shows, with the story of the haunted apartment captivating audiences around the world.

Read More: Check out The Drummer of Tedworth, The Amityville Horror and The Legend of the Bell Witch for more articles about poltergeist.

Despite the passage of time, the mystery of the Haunted Vallecas case remains unsolved. It serves as a reminder of the power of the unknown and the enduring fascination that the paranormal holds for so many people.

The Netflix Movie Veronica

The events of the Vallecas Case and the death of Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro inspired the movie Veronica from 2017 from Netflix. It was made by Paco Plaza and gained huge popularity and renewed interest in the strange case. 

Veronica the Movie: Vallecas case was also the inspiration for the Netflix movie from 2017 with Sandra Escacena playing Estefania Gutierrez Lazaro.

The events detailed in the movie are based on the case, but of course have taken different liberties to tell a different kind of story. 

Conclusion of the Vallecas Case

The Haunted Vallecas case is a chilling and mysterious story that has captivated the world for decades. The strange occurrences that took place in that small apartment in Madrid continue to baffle investigators and skeptics alike, with no clear explanation for the haunting. The case serves as a reminder of the enduring fascination that the paranormal holds for so many people. It also highlights the importance of rigorous scientific investigation when it comes to studying the unknown.

Despite the passage of time, the mystery of the Haunted Vallecas case remains unsolved. It is a chilling reminder of the power of the unknown and the enduring fascination that the paranormal holds for so many people around the world.

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References:

The Vallecas case: the true story behind Veronica movie – Auralcrave

https://www.abc.es/madrid/20151013/abci-posesion-vallecas-confirma-policia-201510121742.html

Caso Vallecas: entre un suceso paranormal y drama humano en este inmueble madrileño — idealista/news

Así era ‘El expediente Vallecas’, el caso real en el que se inspira la película Verónica

Cuarto Milenio | Expediente Vallecas: Iker Jiménez visita la casa donde murió Estefanía en extrañas circunstancias

Lala Chus nos trae el terrorífico caso del ‘Expediente Vallecas’, la historia real que inspiró la película ‘Verónica’ | Europa FM

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The Alchemist House in El Call, Barcelona

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An old house in El Call, Barcelona in Spain is said to be the former house of an alchemist. It is said that he cursed the Alchemist House after he was involved in the tragic death of his own daughter. 

In the middle of the Jewish quarter in Barcelona called El Call there is a coffee shop called Satan’s Coffee Corner at the end of the street. This is a seemingly fitting name for what happened in this street many moons ago according to this legend. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Today the building is a part of the Barcelona History Museum designed to show the life of the Jewish community that settled down in Barcelona in the 9th century.

The Jewish Alchemist and his Daughter

Back in the 14th century there was a famous Jewish alchemist living at number 8 of Arc de Sant Ramon del Call. There are still ornaments of a window and a stone arch from this time. 

He had a beautiful daughter who fell in love with a Christian man. The daughter wanted the man to ask for her fathers permission to marry and finally be together, but the man refused as he knew that the father would oppose them being together no matter what and would never give them his approval. 

Or perhaps the man only wanted a fling without the hassle of marriage. In any case, because the daughter saw no future and them being together, she ended the relationship when the man kept refusing to go to her father. This enraged the man though and he decided to get his revenge on her. 

The Revenge of the Alchemist’s Daughter

He went to her father, albeit for a completely different purpose than what she wanted him to. The boy came to him and asked for poison to kill his ex lover. The alchemist was used by people using his skills to give people what they wanted, whether it was a potion for love, for wealth or even death he was happy, or at least willing to make deadly poisons for those that needed and could pay. 

It is said that the alchemist asked the boy if he was giving the poison to a girl or a boy, and the boy said it was a girl. Because of this, the alchemist put the poison in a rose where just a sniff of the flower could kill a person. 

The boy paid for the deadly flower and went his merry way. The alchemist closed up for the day and went upstairs to greet his daughter, not knowing what tragedy he had just created.

The Flower for his Daughter

That night, the Christian man went to the window of the daughter and called out to her. He offered her the rose, pleading for her and saying that he wanted her back, that he loved her and would do anything for her. 

Although she had broken it off with him, she still longed for him and he was saying everything she wanted to hear. That is why she accepted the rose. After smelling the rose just once, she fell to the floor, writhing in pain until she died of her fathers poison. 

The father went to her room in the morning and found her dead by the flower he himself had made and sold. 

The father fled the house and Barcelona. Before he vanished forever, he put a curse on the house he had once called the home to him and his daughter. He was condemning the whole building and for it to bring misfortune to whoever entered it as it had been done to him. According to the legend, some claim to hear the weeping from the girl within the walls of number 8, the former alchemist’s house. 

The Truth of the Alchemist House

Did an alchemist live in this house? Did his daughter actually die by the hand of her Christian boyfriend and his own magic? Perhaps it really happened, perhaps not, the story is nonetheless a good allegory of what happened to jews in Barcelona in this time. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

The Jews grew in numbers in the city over the years and flourished. Although a strained relationship between the jews and christians throughout the history, their coexistence in Barcelona up until the 14th century wasn’t considered bad. 

That all changed after the black plague came to the Catalan capital in 1348. There were many to blame for this plague, witches, the devil, some even blamed the jews. There was a belief by many that the jews possessed some sort of evil magic and they were dangerous. The king tried to defend the community and even the pope came to the defense at the time to calm down the rumors. But it was too late, because the seed to the hatred was already planted. 

It all culminated in a tragic massacre in 1391. Over 200 jews were murdered in Castellnou. Some were even burned in the streets and the jews had to flee the city, leaving most of their life behind. Their whole community collapsed and most of the buildings, the streets and the homes they had built fell into the hands of the Christians.

The 1391 Massacre: In Barcelona in 1391 there was a riot in the city were they targeted jews on the street and slaughtered them.

The Jewish houses were rebuilt and their mark on the city started to fade away as the shops, homes and people that used to live there now were gone. Only a few houses like the Alchemist House with its accompanying legends remained.  

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References:

La Casa del Alquimista abre como punto cultural del Call
La Casa del Alquimista | MÓN BARCINO
Haunted and Mysterious Places in Barcelona | 19 Local Legends

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La Casa de las Sirenas: The Ghostly Wailing Inside the House of Mermaids

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Inside of an old mansion called The House of Mermaids, you can see the shadows of the ghost of a trapped soul and hear the desperate wailing coming from within La Casa de las Sirenas in Seville, Spain. 

As the moon rises over the Spanish city landscape, the old mansions of yesteryear come alive with ghostly apparitions and spectral hauntings. 

From its eerie whispers to its chilling apparitions, La Casa de las Sirenas beckons the curious to unlock its enigmatic history. Join us on a journey as we peel back the layers of time and uncover the spine-tingling tales that have made this mansion infamous. 

Historical background of La Casa de las Sirenas

Seville where we find La Casa de las Sirenas is the capital city of Andalucia. This place is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture, however, beneath its charming facade, lies a darker side – a world of haunted mansions, ghostly apparitions, and spine-chilling tales.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Originally built as a romantic mansion in 1864, La Casa de las Sirenas was a symbol of opulence and grandeur. Its architectural beauty, with its intricate detailing and elegant design, made it a coveted residence for wealthy families. 

La Casa de las Sirenas: The House of the Mermaids in Seville Spain has long been thought to be haunted by a former resident after is was left abandoned for a long time. //Source: CarlosVdeHabsburgo /Wikimedia

The name meaning The House of Mermaids comes from the Egyptian sphinxes at the entrance of the house, with people thinking it looked like sirens from Greek mythology. Although it was a grand house, not many stayed in it for too long and it has always been shrouded in mystery. Why did people leave so quickly? And why do people claim to see people in the windows although it has been abandoned for years?

As the years passed, La Casa de las Sirenas fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned in the 1980s, but left behind a haunted rumor.

The Haunted Mansion of Mermaids

With the mansion left to decay, especially in the 1970s and 80s, rumors of its haunting began to circulate. People claimed to have seen figures in the windows, heard disembodied voices, and experienced inexplicable phenomena. The allure of the mansion’s haunting history drew paranormal investigators, thrill-seekers, and curious individuals who were eager to uncover its secrets.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses

One of the most chilling accounts of paranormal activity at La Casa de las Sirenas is the sighting of figures in the windows. Visitors have reported seeing shadowy apparitions peering out from the dilapidated mansion, their presence sending shivers down their spines. The figures appear and disappear without a trace, leaving witnesses questioning their own sanity.

Another eerie phenomenon reported by those who have ventured into the mansion is the sound of a terrible wailing. The chilling cries reverberate through the halls, creating an atmosphere of unease and dread. Some believe these mournful sounds are the echoes of a tragic event that unfolded within the mansion’s walls, forever imprinted on the fabric of its existence.

The Imprisoned Ghost Still Haunting the Mansion

Who this ghost inside of La Casa de las Sirenas is supposed to be is unclear, but many claim the ghost is one of the descendants of the Portilla family that owned the house once upon the time before leaving it to decay in the 1950s. 

Haunted House: In the La Casa de las Sirenas people have claimed to have seen ghosts and figures in the windows when there was no one home and living there. //Source: CarlosVdeHabsburgo /Wikimedia

According to legend the son of the family was confined to the house because of being homosexual and they tried to cut him off from the world from a young age. Some say that the confinement was by himself as he didnt’ want to live like this and punished himself by locking himself up. 

Another version of the legend is that the family physically tied him up and shut him inside so as not let his sin be known and come to life. How he died is up for debate. Was it by natural causes or by someone’s hand? In any case, it is said that the ghost haunting this house is him. 

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References:

La Casa de las Sirenas: el secreto que se esconde entre sus cuatro paredes – El Patio Colorao
La Casa de las Sirenas: la historia del palacio encantado de la Alameda – Sevilla Secreta
Casa de las Sirenas (The House of Mermaids) | Turismo de la Provincia de SevillaRoad trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain

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The Poltergeist of Madrid’s Haunted Antique Store: El Baúl del Monje

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In Madrid in the 90s, there was an old antique store that were the place of strange things. The owner thought his shop Baúl del Monje was haunted by a possible poltergeist, and the investigation in this case drew a lot of attention from the public.

El Baúl del Monje was an antiques store in Madrid in Spain known for being the focus of alleged paranormal phenomena of great intensity during the 1990s. The Antique shop name means Monk’s Truck and the phenomena were investigated by the Hepta Group that investigated a lot of the well known haunted locations in Spain. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Could it really be that the old shop was haunted by a poltergeist?

Poltergeists have been a topic of interest for centuries. These entities are known for causing physical disturbances such as inexplicable noises, movement of inanimate objects, and even materialization of objects. The term poltergeist is derived from the German words “poltern,” meaning to make noise, and “geist,” meaning ghost. These entities are often associated with haunted places, and Madrid’s Baúl del Monje is one such location.

The Haunting Starts in the Shop

The phenomena registered prior to the arrival of the Hepta paranormal investigation group were described as aggressive, of great intensity, and very frequent by the staff working in the shop as well as its customers. 

The building where the events took place was located at number 10, Marqués de Monasterio street, in the central Justicia neighborhood, a short distance from Paseo de Recoletos and was said to have started in March in 1998. 

Read more: Check out more poltergeist stories like The Poltergeist of Greyfriars Kirkyard or The Ghosts that Drove the Villagers of La Cornudilla out of Town.

Witnesses reported seeing objects move by themselves, hearing unexplained noises, and feeling a sense of unease within the store. Some even claimed to have seen apparitions and materializations of objects. These events occurred on a daily basis and were of great intensity, causing concern among both customers and employees.

The owner of the shop, Noel, told this to the radio station: “one of the things that happens the most is that objects fall without anyone touching them. Sometimes figures are seen, other times they are noises, real, and then, however, there is nothing to justify them”.

Paranormal Investigation

The owner, Noel, called after someone that could help him with the strange things happening in his shop. Upon the arrival of the Hepta group in February 1999, they began a short series of investigations that yielded the same results. 

Even the paranormal investigators were shaken as they too experienced some of the strange and unexplainable things:

Poltergeist Activity: One of the phenomenon that the shop had was the flying chairs they claimed happened. This is a picture they allegedly took of what happened in 1999.//Source: Wikimedia

The lamps began to move by themselves. For example, the crystalline ornaments that hang from them appeared in other rooms. They jumped in front of your eyes or directly broke. The taps opened on their own, sometimes it seemed as if a crockery had fallen on the floor and many other times a rotten smell arose that transformed into an incredible scent of roses. It emerged from the rooms and impregnated some furniture. She smelled like burnt hair inside one of the closets.

They also experienced a rotten smell that turned into an intense aroma of roses coming from the ground. The taps in the building kept opening by themselves and candles lit themselves up. It was almost always happening at the same time, close to closing time. 

According to the explanation of the Hepta Group, the phenomena were of a poltergeist nature and were unconsciously caused by the affected person and owner Noel himself. The owner had problems with events like this in other places where he had conducted businesses. 

The Unsettling Events in Baúl del Monje

The Hepta Group’s investigations uncovered some unsettling findings. According to the researchers, faithful to parapsychology, everything could have been triggered by some dramatic events that happened in that same place years ago. 

A lawyer died from smoke inhalation after the gas from the stove had escaped. In some versions he fell asleep with a cigarette in the bed. This could have been the trigger for the poltergeist activity. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.

Some claimed that it had to be one of the old objects in the shop that surely had to be cursed. 

Despite the investigations, the mystery of the old antique store remains unsolved. The explanation to the HEpta Group was that the phenomena was unconsciously caused by the affected person and the owner of the shop, Noel. 

The phenomena started to happen less frequently until it disappeared completely. Noel felt that the alleged poltergeist left the premises soon as he believed that it negatively affected his sales. 

The phenomena were of such intensity that they left a lasting impression on those who witnessed them. Today, the premises are occupied by a private residence, and there have been no reports of unusual events since.

Have a look at some of the photage and the Hepta group investigated the case.

Conclusion of the Haunted Shop

The events that took place in Baúl del Monje remain a haunting mystery. The poltergeist activity that occurred within its walls was of great intensity and left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it. The Hepta Group’s investigations provided some insight into the nature of the phenomena, but the cause of the activity remains unknown.

Poltergeist hauntings have been tried documented throughout history, and Baúl del Monje is just one such location. The unexplained events that occurred within its walls serve as a reminder of the mysteries that surround our world. While we may never know the true cause of the phenomena that occurred in Baúl del Monje, it is a testament to the power of the unknown and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding.

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References:

El Baúl del Monje – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Los fenómenos paranormales de “El Baúl del Monje”
El caso poltergeist del anticuario «Baúl del Monje»The poltergeist case of the antique dealer “Baúl del Monje”. El pensante. Recuperado el día 12 de julio de 2023.

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Exploring the Haunting Legend of El Coco

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The Spanish legend of El Coco frightened children and was used by parents to make their children go to sleep. But what really was behind the horrible legend about the child devouring monster that would come for you?

Go to sleep child,
go to sleep now,
the coconut is coming
and it will eat you

Many Spanish parents spook their children by cautioning them about El Coco, a Boogeyman monster who snatches children away if they misbehave or refuse to sleep. It has also been associated with a horrible crime that was like a manifestation of the old legend. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Parents warn their children of El Coco using the popular rhyme, “Duermete niño, duermete ya, que viene El Coco y te comerá.” (“Sleep child, sleep now, or else Coco will come and eat you.”

Origins and Cultural Variations of the El Coco Legend

The legend of El Coco has its roots in Galician Spanish and Portuguese folklore, but it has spread to various countries and cultures around the world, each with their own unique variations. 

In Spain, El Coco is often depicted as a dark, shadowy figure lurking in the night. Some say that he appears on moonless nights and puts lying children in a sack and turns them into soap.

Other cultures have their own versions of the legend, such as the Bogeyman in English-speaking countries and the Sack Man in France.

El Coco: Francisco de Goya illustrated, Que viene el coco (Here Comes the Bogey-Man), published 1799.

The origins of the legend can be traced back to the 17th century when the first lullabies were written down, where parents would use stories of monsters and boogeymen to frighten their children into behaving. These cautionary tales served as a way to instill discipline and obedience in children, as they believed that the threat of El Coco would keep them in line. 

Over time, the legend evolved and became deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of various cultures. And with time, the tale of Coco spread to Latin America that also put their own touch on the legend. 

Terrifying Tales and Encounters with El Coco

Throughout history, there have been numerous chilling tales and alleged encounters with El Coco. These stories have been passed down from generation to generation, fueling the fear and fascination surrounding the legend. One such tale recounts the story of a young boy who was abducted by El Coco and never seen again. The boy’s parents claimed to have seen a dark figure with glowing eyes and a black cloth bag lurking outside their home on the night of the abduction.

Perhaps the most terrifying thing about this is that it is well in with a horrible real crime that happened to a child. 

The Real El Coco Francisco Ortega

A real person that has been associated with El Coco was Francisco Ortega. In 1910 he lived in Gador in Spain with no family, alone in his house. He had tuberculosis and was near death. 

At the time there was no cure for tuberculosis, but Ortega didn’t want to die. He went to a healer called Francisco Leona that also practices black magic. He told Ortega he needed the blood of a child and 3000 reais to pay the healer. 

They kidnapped a seven year old named Bernando from his house and put him in a sack. Leon cut the child’s heart out with a knife and crushed his head with a rock. They drank his blood, put his heart in a jar and used his body to make a medical paste. 

Leona got rid of the body with the help of Julio. But Julio didn’t receive any payments so he went to the police and turned them in. They were all arrested and sentenced to death. 

The Goodnight Story El Coco

The legend of El Coco is a haunting tale that has been passed down through generations, instilling fear and fascination in children and adults alike. Its origins in Spanish folklore have spread to various cultures, each with their own unique variations of the legend. Throughout history, there have been terrifying tales and alleged encounters with El Coco, fueling the fear and intrigue surrounding the creature.

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References:

Crime of Gádor – Wikipedia
Simple Stories in Spanish: La Leyenda del Coco
Coco (folklore) – Wikipedia
La Leyenda del Coco

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The Ghost and Aliens Close to the Military Base in Andalucía

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A trail of ghost children passing the road, the sight of a shining woman in the middle of the road are just some of the strange tales about the haunted stretch of road close to a military base in Andalucía. 

Over the course of 19 years people claimed to see strange apparition on the stretch of road from Seville to Moron de la Frontera in Andalucía. It was built to connect the towns of Arahal, Utrera, Montellano and the Moron air base and strange things are said to happen here in the dead of the night. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

There is not only one ghost story connected to this place, but several. And the ghost stories told about this place is not even the strangest thing told about this stretch of road. 

The Ghost of Children Crossing the Road

Some of the strange apparition seen along this road is what appears to be the ghosts of school children. 

Drivers along this road saw lines of children wearing what looked like school uniforms as they were crossing the road while holding hands before they suddenly vanished into thin air.

This was told by 4 young people in a car when one night 20 years ago a man jumped out from the ditch and stopped the traffic in the middle of the night by standing in the middle of the road to let the ghost children pass. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Haunted Roads all around the world.

A line of children, boys and girls holding hands dressed in their school uniforms appeared. They crossed the road and disappeared without a trace. 

If there have been a particular accident involving young school children that ended their life in a car accident is unclear. However, the legend about the ghost children crossing the road had been told for years now and has cemented itself as a part of the road lore. 

There has been talk that it used to be a rural school in the place a long time ago, but what happened to it, no one really knows. 

The Shining Woman in the Middle of the Road

Another ghost legend told about the place is what appears like the ghost of a woman. She is said to be appearing in the middle of the road who shines so bright that they first think she is some sort of traffic signal. 

One of the witnesses of this strange thing was seen by Pedro Luque and his wife when they came driving on this road. It was dark and winter and when they approached what they thought was a traffic signal, they realized it was a woman.  

He described her as at least 50 years old tall and skinny, with a serious look on her face like she was scared. 

They didn’t stop for her, but when they passed her on the road and looked in the rearview mirror, she was gone. 

Whether this is some sort of classical vanishing hitchhiker story is likely, but it could also pass as some of the more strange rumors going on about this road. 

UFO’s and Humanoid Figures Close to the Military Base

As mentioned earlier, ghost stories are far from the strangest things people talk about when talking about this road. There have also been talks about seeing UFOs and other otherworldly things here.

Even the military have taken action to investigate the strange things that seemingly keep happening here. 

Read more: Check out the stories about The Haunted Observation Post Rock in War Torn Afghanistan, Conn Barracks Ghosts of Nazi Soldiers and Bloody Nurses and The Lingering Presence of a Nazi Ghost at Skaugum for more ghost stories about haunted military bases.

A fair point about the strange things happening around these parts have been attributed to the proximity to the military base, especially since it is close to the base of the secretive Spanish air force in Moron. 

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References:

Misterios de Sevilla: niños espectrales y terror en la carretera

Los 10 tramos de carretera más misteriosos de España

Driving the 10 most haunted roads of Spain

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The Haunted Ave Maria House in Barcelona

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On the place were the grand Palau Guell now stands, there used to be a more humble building of rental homes known as the Ave Maria House. People passing by would make the cross for safety as the house was also known as the House of Fear and believed to be haunted. 

Spain is home to many old houses, some of which are said to be haunted. From tales of ghostly apparitions, strange noises and unexplained phenomena, these stories have been passed down through generations. In this article we will explore one such haunted house in Spain and uncover its mysteries.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

Prepare to be captivated by the spine-chilling tales that surround the enigmatic Ave Maria House in Barcelona. Nestled within the labyrinthine streets of this ancient city the place became known for its ghostly legends and eerie happenings. 

Before it was built a huge palace was built on the site, there used to be a much humbler building. The now No. 5 house on Nou de la Rambla in Barcelona used to be called The House of the Ave Maria, or more sinister, The House of Fear. Back then it used to stand many rented homes there.

The House of Fear

Locals and passersby would share spine-chilling tales of the unnerving sounds emanating from within its walls. As night fell, lamentations and loud banging would echo through the house, sending shivers down the spines of anyone who dared to venture close. The clanking of chains added to the eerie atmosphere, instilling a sense of dread and fascination in those who crossed its path.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

The Ave Maria House became a place of legend, where superstition and fear intertwined. To protect themselves from the malevolent forces believed to haunt the house, people passing by would instinctively make the sign of the Cross and recite a Hail Mary prayer. These rituals provided a sense of solace in the face of the unknown, offering some semblance of protection against the supernatural forces that seemed to lurk within.

The haunting tales surrounding the Ave Maria House captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike, fueling curiosity and the desire to uncover the truth behind the enigma. What lay behind those walls? Who or what was responsible for the eerie happenings that sent shivers down the spines of anyone who encountered the house? The answers remained elusive, shrouded in the depths of history and the realm of the paranormal.

The Exorcism of the Ave Maria House

In an attempt to rid the Ave Maria House of its hauntings, an exorcist was called upon to confront the malevolent forces that plagued the house. With prayers and incantations, the exorcist sought to banish the supernatural entities that held the house in their grip. The rituals and prayers continued until the paranormal activity ceased, leaving behind an eerie silence that contrasted with the previous cacophony of ghostly sounds.

Did the exorcism truly put an end to the hauntings, or did it merely suppress the supernatural forces lurking within the Ave Maria House? We don’t really know for sure as most of the homes were evicted when they started to build the palace. 

Some whispered that the spirits remained, lingering in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to once again make their presence known. The mysteries surrounding the house persisted, leaving the curious and the brave to ponder the true nature of the haunting.

The House Today were Palau Guell was built on top of it

As the years passed, the Avemaria House underwent changes that further added to its mystique. Eventually, the house was torn down, making way for a new chapter in its history. A man named Eusebi Guell purchased the plot and built his Palau Guell, a magnificent mansion that still stands today that was designed by Gaudi and built from 1886-1890.

Palau Guell: On the place were the Ave Maria house once stood there now is a palace instead. It is said that the woman living in the house always felt there were something strange going on. Could it be that the haunting continued even after the building itself got knocked down? // Source: Takahiro Hayashi/Flickr

Rumors spread at the time about Eusebi Guell’s wife, Isabel Lopez de Comillas, and her uneasy relationship with the new building. She claimed to hear strange noises, reminiscent of the ghostly sounds that had once plagued the Ave Maria House. Whether these were mere coincidences or a testament to the lingering presence of the supernatural, the whispers added another layer of intrigue to the already enigmatic tale of the haunted abode.

The Enduring Allure of the Ave Maria House

While the house itself may be gone, its mysteries endure, inviting speculation and wonder. What truly happened within those haunted walls? Were the ghostly encounters mere figments of imagination, or did they hold a deeper truth? The Ave Maria House stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the supernatural, reminding us that even in the modern world, there are still mysteries that defy explanation.

As night falls and darkness once again envelopes the streets of Barcelona, the Ave Maria House whispers its secrets to those who listen. Will you be brave enough to venture into the unknown and unravel the enigma surrounding this haunted abode?

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13 Barcelona Haunted Houses & Places that will creep you out

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The Haunting Veronica Jaja Urban Legend From Spain

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The urban legend of Veronica Jaja is almost like the Spanish version of Bloody Mary. Say her name three times into the mirror and you will get a visit from the spirit behind the mirror. But why would you risk it as she is mostly there to take your life?

Veronica Jaja…
…Veronica Jaja
Veronica Jaja!

Say this name three times in a dark mirror and see what happens. Perhaps you will fall victim to the urban legend that claims to get the one that plays, dead. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

This urban legend of Veronica Jaja seems to have come up pre internet in the early 20th century shares a lot in common with the Bloody Mary game and legend and is one of the Ghost in the Mirror games that is a legend about a ghost trapped inside of a mirror that can be summoned by uttering its name out loud a number of times.

According to the legend she is summoned after speaking her name 3 times into a mirror. Veronica Jaja will then appear and take your life. She comes as a dark figure and immediately starts to strangle those who summoned her, and she wont stop until she has killed them. 

Those who do survive this ordeal though are said to be haunted by nightmares for their entire life. 

According to the legend, there are plenty that summoned Veronica Jaja for fun, only for it to be the last thing they did. It is said that more than one have been found dead in their bedroom without sign of struggle. 

The Girl who Played with the Occult

But who is this Veronica that is summoned through the mirror? There are variant legends. One of them is that Veronica was a young girl herself that god mixed up in the supernatural. She was a teenage girl that played around with something she shouldn’t have, most often it is said that was a ouija board. 

Through her careless game with the occult she managed to invoke some evil spirits and the next day she was found dead. Because of her lack of respect she became trapped between the world of the living and dead and became the very thing she tried to play around with. 

The Girl with the Beautiful Hair

Another version was that she was a vain girl with wonderful hair she brushed a hundred times every day. All she cared about was her hair, and she loved to stare at it in her mirror.

One day a man hid in her closet to play a prank on the girl with the beautiful hair. When she sat in front of her mirror and brushed her hair, he came out and held her mouth with a handkerchief so she wouldn’t scream. Then he cut off all of her precious hair. 

She was too distraught to look at herself in the mirror without her hair after the attack. Because of her trauma she killed herself. In this version she can be summoned by looking in the mirror while brushing your hair 100 times as you summon her spirit by calling out her name three times. 

Connected with a real case?

The many variations of the Veronica Jaja game can remind a lot of what happened to the real Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro. She was a teenage girl that was found dead in her home without an explanation in 1991 in Madrid, before the growth of the urban legend of Veronica Jaja throughout the 90s. 

According to her parents they blamed it on her fondness of the occult and it was said that she had played the ouija board game not long before her death as a way to contact her friend’s boyfriend that had died in a motorbike accident. 

Seeing that many variations of the urban legend started to circulate in the late 90s, it is highly likely that these two things are connected. It was made into a movie based on her death and strange circumstances around it named: Veronica. 

Veronica Jaja the Witch

There is however, a long history concerning these so-called ghosts in the mirror, and there are those stories that predate the death of Estefanía Gutierrez Lázaro in the 1990s and we did have several stories about the ghost in the mirrors long before the 90s as well. 

In this version her origin is much more vague and a lot older. She is sometimes called a daughter of Satan or a witch that was burned at the stakes centuries ago. 

Some variations of the legend centers around a young woman named Veronica Jaja from northern Spain, who was accused of practicing dark magic and witchcraft and burnt to death for her crimes.

During the Spanish Inquisition, thousands of men and women were accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery, like in the case of the Basque Witch Trials or the Witches of Zugarramurdi case that happened in Northern Spain. The fear of the supernatural and the unknown led to mass hysteria, with innocent individuals being persecuted and executed.

The witch trials served as a backdrop for the creation of many urban legends, including the Veronica Jaja legend. The tales of witches and their alleged powers became ingrained in the collective consciousness of the Spanish people, giving rise to stories that would be passed down through generations.

Popular Variations and Retellings of the Veronica Jaja Urban Legend

Over the years, the Veronica Jaja urban legend has evolved and taken on various forms. Different versions of the story have emerged, each with its own unique twists and turns. One popular variation of the legend tells that if you say her name 5 times it will make her more powerful and make her appearance more likely to happen. 

There are also those that swear to say her name backwards or in reverse order will also help those that desperately need her. 

Similar Urban Legends from Around the World

While the Veronica Jaja urban legend may be unique to Spain, similar tales can be found in different cultures around the world.

The closest one is probably the Bloody Mary legend, and this too seems to have roots to much older history, tracing back to Tudor times in Britain with the Mary Queen of Scots who were known to have burnt countless people on the stakes to earn her name. But also with this legend, there are now so many variants that sometimes even cross over with each other and it is difficult to claim what came first

In Japan, there is the legend of Hanako-san, a ghostly figure who haunts the school bathrooms. Like Veronica Jaja, Hanako-san is said to appear when summoned, bringing fear and unease to those who dare to invoke her name.

The Ghost in the Mirrors

As we come to the end of our exploration of the Veronica Jaja urban legend, one thing becomes clear – the enduring allure of urban legends. These tales of mystery and intrigue have captivated our imaginations for centuries, allowing us to escape into a world of the unknown. The Veronica Jaja legend, with its dark origins and chilling retellings, continues to fascinate and intrigue, reminding us of the power of storytelling and the human fascination with the supernatural.

So, the next time you find yourself in front of a mirror, take a moment to ponder the mysteries that lie beneath its surface. Who knows what secrets and legends may be waiting to be discovered?

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References:

https://www.lasprovincias.es/sociedad/leyenda-bloody-mary-veronica-espejo-20211025212425-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lasprovincias.es%2Fsociedad%2Fleyenda-bloody-mary-veronica-espejo-20211025212425-nt.html

Verónica (leyenda urbana) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre