Real Events Backed by Witnesses and Historical Press Reports
Spain is not only famous for its sun, flamenco, and delicious tapas — it’s also a land filled with mystery, superstition, and unexplained phenomena. Over the years, the country has witnessed several documented paranormal events that have been covered by the press, studied by investigators, and remembered by eyewitnesses.
From haunted houses and possessed girls to police officers reporting ghostly encounters, Spain’s history is rich in chilling stories that continue to intrigue believers and skeptics alike. In this article, we’ll explore the most famous and well-documented paranormal cases in Spain, focusing on real events supported by testimonies and historical media coverage.
So, turn off the lights, get comfortable, and let’s explore Spain’s creepiest — yet fascinating — paranormal stories. 🕯️
🏠 1. The Enfield of Spain: The Vallecas Case (Madrid, 1990s)
One of the most famous and chilling paranormal events in Spanish history is the Vallecas Case, often compared to the Enfield Poltergeist in the UK. This story took place in the early 1990s in the Madrid neighborhood of Vallecas and remains one of the few Spanish cases with official police reports confirming unexplained phenomena.
🧒 The Tragic Beginning
It all started with the death of a young girl named Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro, who reportedly suffered a seizure after using a Ouija board at school. According to witnesses, the game was interrupted by a teacher — but soon after, Estefanía began to show strange symptoms:
- She claimed to see shadows and hear voices.
- She experienced fits and hallucinations.
- Her family described objects moving on their own around the house.
Tragically, Estefanía died a few months later under mysterious circumstances.
👻 The Aftermath: A Haunted House
After her death, her parents and siblings began to experience terrifying events in their home:
- Crucifixes were turned upside down.
- Family members were pushed and scratched by invisible forces.
- Photographs caught fire without explanation.
The situation got so bad that the family eventually called the police.
🚔 The Police Report That Shocked Spain
When police officers arrived, they witnessed supernatural activity firsthand. One officer later testified seeing:
- A heavy wooden wardrobe moving by itself.
- Doors slamming violently.
- A strange brown stain appearing on a table.
These events were officially recorded in a police report dated November 27, 1992 — a rare instance of Spanish authorities acknowledging paranormal activity.
To this day, the Vallecas Case remains one of the most credible and documented paranormal stories in Spain, widely covered by the media and studied by parapsychologists.
🪞 2. The Faces of Bélmez (Jaén, Andalucía)
Few paranormal mysteries in Spain are as famous — or as debated — as the Faces of Bélmez. This phenomenon began in 1971, in a small house in Bélmez de la Moraleda, a quiet village in Jaén.
😱 The First Face Appears
One day, the homeowner, María Gómez Cámara, noticed a strange human-like face appearing on her kitchen floor. Thinking it was just a stain, she tried to clean it — but it wouldn’t go away. Instead, more faces began to appear, showing expressions of sorrow, fear, or pain.
📸 Evidence and Investigation
The phenomenon drew enormous attention from journalists, scientists, and priests. Over the years:
- The faces were photographed, filmed, and analyzed by experts.
- Some studies concluded they were not painted or artificially created.
- Others claimed it was a chemical reaction caused by moisture and cleaning agents.
Even more mysterious was the fact that the faces seemed to change shape over time, and new ones appeared even after the floor was replaced.
📰 A Media Sensation
Spanish newspapers and TV channels turned Bélmez into a national sensation, and the village became a pilgrimage site for believers and skeptics.
Today, the Faces of Bélmez remain one of the most documented paranormal events in Europe, with thousands of visitors still traveling to the house to see the mysterious images.
📻 3. The Ghost of the Hospital del Tórax (Terrassa, Catalonia)
The Hospital del Tórax in Terrassa, near Barcelona, was once a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients in the mid-20th century. It later became one of the most feared and haunted places in Spain — so much so that paranormal researchers, film crews, and journalists have repeatedly visited it.
💀 A Place of Suffering
The hospital was infamous for its high suicide rate. Patients who couldn’t bear the pain or despair often jumped from a ninth-floor balcony known as the Balcony of Death.
Staff members later reported hearing screams, whispers, and footsteps in empty corridors.
🎥 Paranormal Recordings
During the 1990s and 2000s, several Spanish TV programs and investigative journalists filmed strange occurrences inside the abandoned building, such as:
- Echoing voices caught on tape.
- Temperature drops in specific rooms.
- Mysterious shadows appearing on camera.
Even today, ghost hunters describe the hospital as one of the most active paranormal hotspots in Spain. It has inspired horror movies and remains a popular destination for thrill-seekers.
👮♂️ 4. The Ghost Police Call of Sevilla (1995)
This case stands out because it was officially recorded by the police — and the officers involved confirmed the strange events publicly.
📞 The Call
In 1995, police in Sevilla received a call from a family claiming that furniture was moving by itself and doors were opening and closing inside their home. Thinking it was a domestic disturbance, two officers were sent to the house.
👻 What They Saw
According to their later statements and official records:
- A large armchair slid across the room on its own.
- A wooden door slammed shut with force, even though no wind was present.
- The crosses on the walls moved violently.
The officers left the scene visibly shaken and documented what they witnessed in their official police report — a document still referenced in Spanish paranormal studies today.
🗞️ Public Reaction
When the story broke in the press, it caused a national sensation. Both the family and the officers appeared in interviews, insisting the events were real. Even though no definitive explanation was ever found, this “Sevilla Poltergeist” remains one of Spain’s most credible modern paranormal cases.
⚰️ 5. The Ghostly Nun of the Sanatorio de Cesuras (Galicia)
Hidden in the misty forests of Galicia lies the Sanatorio de Cesuras, an abandoned tuberculosis hospital built in the early 20th century. The site is linked to numerous ghost sightings, especially that of a nun dressed in black who appears in the corridors at night.
👁️ Witness Testimonies
Local residents, photographers, and urban explorers have claimed to see:
- A shadowy figure walking near the main entrance.
- Doors opening on their own.
- Cold spots and strange noises from the upper floors.
While there’s no police report, the consistency of the testimonies and the history of suffering in the hospital have made this site a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts.
🧒 6. The Possession of Almansa (Albacete, 1980s)
In the 1980s, the small town of Almansa became the scene of one of Spain’s most discussed possession cases, covered by local newspapers and television.
A teenage girl began to behave strangely after playing with a Ouija board. Witnesses, including her family and a local priest, claimed she:
- Spoke in strange voices.
- Levitate slightly during episodes.
- Reacted violently to religious symbols.
The Catholic Church eventually conducted a private exorcism, and several local journalists who attended reported objects moving in the room. Though never officially confirmed by the Church, the story became part of Spain’s most famous possession cases.
🕯️ Why Paranormal Stories Thrive in Spain
Spain’s deep spiritual and religious roots, combined with centuries of folklore, mysticism, and Catholic influence, create the perfect environment for tales of the supernatural.
- Catholic imagery (saints, demons, exorcisms) adds symbolic meaning to unexplained events.
- Rural traditions keep old superstitions alive.
- The media often amplifies these stories, mixing fact and fear.
These stories endure because they reflect collective fears, grief, and fascination with death — universal emotions shared across generations.
✨ Conclusion: Between Faith, Fear, and the Unknown
The paranormal stories of Spain are more than just scary tales — they’re reflections of the country’s culture and history.
Whether it’s the faces that appear from nowhere in a kitchen floor, the spirit of a girl whose death remains unexplained, or police officers documenting ghostly activity, each story offers a glimpse into how the Spanish imagination merges faith, mystery, and emotion.
Even in a modern, rational world, these cases remind us that not everything can be explained — and that sometimes, the past refuses to stay silent.
So, if you ever walk through an old Spanish village at night and feel a sudden chill... maybe you’re not alone. 👻🇪🇸
Sources:
- El País: “El caso Vallecas: el expediente policial más famoso de España” (2023)
- ABC Historia: “Las caras de Bélmez, el enigma que sigue vivo medio siglo después” (2022)
- La Vanguardia: “Hospital del Tórax: historias de terror en Terrassa” (2023)
- RTVE: “El poltergeist de Sevilla: la llamada real a la policía” (2022)
- National Geographic España: “Lugares misteriosos de España” (2024)