Stories and Fascinating Legends

Have you never thought about the why of an expression or a tradition? Learn about the history of Spain through stories and legends of interest. Fascinating Spain is the community that organizes this content.

  • Olentzero

    The fascinating legend of Olentzero

    Christmas is all around! The season’s joy, family moments and of course….presents! The little ones must have been worn to be “good kids or you‘d be given carbon” However, there was a time when carbon was considered a good present. That’s how the legend of Olentzero begins, the Father Christmas or Santa Claus of Euskadi [...]
  • Alfonso the Chaste

    Alfonso the Chaste: The First Pilgrim of Compostela

    King Alfonso II of Asturias (born in 760) has come to be known as the first pilgrim to journey to the tomb of the apostle of Santiago de Compostela. He was fundamental in the history of the Camino. Not only did he blaze the trail of the Original Camino, but he is also famous for [...]
  • The War of Navarrería in Pamplona

    The War of Navarrería in Pamplona

    On the grounds adjacent to the current Calle de la Navarrería in Pamplona took place the biggest massacre in the history of Navarra. In 1274, when Enrique III de Navarra (and also the count of Champaña and Brie, which made it vassal to the then king of France) died, he left a three-year-old daughter in [...]
  • The Order of Santiago

    The Order of Santiago and the Re-Conquering of Cáceres

    According to legend, the Order of Santiago, the most prestigious military group in the Iberian Peninsula, was founded by king Ramiro I of Asturias the day after his victory at the Battle of Clavijo (May 25th, 846). So decisive was the help of the Apostle Santiago, that the archbishop of Santiago de Compostela was benefitted [...]

  • The Battle of Roncesvalles

    Who has not heard of the Battle of Roncesvalles, with Charlemagne and the knight Roldán? This is one of the most studied fights in the history of man, that gave rise to the singing of heroic deeds, known as the Song of Roland. The battle has been called into question by the historian Vicente José González [...]
Pedro Madruga: cleric, knight and discoverer?
Sisnando Menéndez and the landing of Catoira.
History of The invention of the calimocho
The fascinating legend of Olentzero
The fish man of Liérganes
The Origin of St James’ Shell
The Bispo Santo and the Normans
Battle of Villalar and execution of Bravo, Padilla and Maldonado
The betrayal of Count Don Julian
The battle of Rande and the lost treasure
The battle of Lucena and the capture of Boabdil
The Battle of Roncesvalles
The ‘guru’ who made the first suicide attack
The treacherous countess
Pedro Pardo de Cela, the marshal of Mondoñedo
The Order of Santiago and the Re-Conquering of Cáceres
Alfonso the Chaste: The First Pilgrim of Compostela
Aliatar’s Horse
The Battle of Atapuerca
The Pilgrimage of Louis VII from France
The War of Navarrería in Pamplona
The legend of the txori of Puente La Reina
Miracle and gafe of Santa María la Real