Alcázar in Segovia is one of Spain's most recognizable castles that resembles a Disney fairy tale fortress. However, behind its impressive facade lies a dark history. Built in the 12th century, it has served as a royal residence, a prison and even a military academy. Visitors and staff often report unexplainable phenomena, from sudden drops in temperature to mysterious footsteps in empty corridors. The castle's most famous ghost is said to be Maria de Padilla, mistress of King Peter I the Cruel, who, according to legend, was walled up alive in one of the chambers. Her moans and cries can be heard on quiet nights, especially in the north wing of the building.

No less terrifying is the story of the Castillo de Santa Bárbara in Alicante. This massive castle, towering over the city, has witnessed countless battles, tortures and executions. Built by the Carthaginians in the 9th century BC, and later expanded by the Romans and Moors, it hides many secrets. The most famous legend concerns a Moorish prince who imprisoned his daughter in one of the towers when she fell in love with a Christian knight. The girl, unable to bear separation from her beloved, threw herself from the tower. Since then, her ghost is said to wander the castle walls, and tourists often report seeing the figure of a young woman in a white dress who disappears as soon as they approach her.

Loarre Castle, located in the province of Huesca in Aragon, is another place where the past doesn't seem to want to leave. This Romanesque castle from the 11th century, considered one of the best preserved in Europe, witnessed bloody battles during the Reconquista. Local legends speak of Templar spirits guarding the treasures hidden in the castle. Night watchmen have reported strange lights, inexplicable sounds and the feeling that someone is watching them. The ghost of a monk is said to be particularly active, appearing in the castle chapel during the full moon.

An interesting aspect of the three castles is that each represents a different historical period and architectural style. The Alcázar in Segovia combines Gothic with mudéjar and Renaissance elements, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara retains traces of Carthaginian, Roman and Moorish architecture, and the Loarre Castle is an excellent example of pure Romanesque style. Despite these differences, all three sites share an aura of mystery and paranormal phenomena.

In terms of accessibility, the Alcázar in Segovia is the easiest to visit, with well-marked trails and regularly scheduled tours. Castillo de Santa Bárbara offers not only a historical experience, but also spectacular views of the Mediterranean. The Castle of Loarre, although a bit further off the main tourist routes, rewards the effort of reaching it with the authentic atmosphere of a medieval fortress, virtually unchanged for centuries.

Casa de las Siete Chimeneas (House of the Seven Chimneys) is one of the most intriguing buildings in downtown Madrid. Built in the 16th century, it gets its name from the distinctive seven chimneys on the roof. The history of the place is as fascinating as its architecture. According to legend, the house was home to a beautiful young woman named Elena, the mistress of King Philip II. One day she was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Soon after her death, a white female figure began to be seen on the roof of the building. Some say this is the ghost of Elena, who is seeking justice for her untimely death. Interestingly, during the renovation of the building in the 19th century, a human skeleton was found in the basement, which only fueled the legend.

Today, the Casa de las Siete Chimeneas houses the Ministry of Culture, but that doesn't bother Elena's ghost. Employees of the building have reported strange phenomena ranging from inexplicable noises to the feeling of someone's presence in empty rooms. She is said to be particularly active on nights of a full moon, when her silhouette can reportedly be seen on the roof, between the famous chimneys.

LA MANSIÓN, located on the outskirts of Madrid, has a no less sinister reputation. This imposing estate, surrounded by a sprawling, neglected garden, has attracted paranormal seekers for years. The history of the place is shrouded in mystery, but locals tell of a wealthy family that lived there in the 1940s. According to legend, the head of the family went insane and murdered all the household members, then committed suicide. Since then, the property has stood empty, and local residents avoid the place, especially after dark.

Brave people who have approached LA MANSIÓN at night tell of strange lights in the windows, even though the building has no electricity, of children's cries coming from empty rooms, and of the feeling that someone is watching them from behind the curtains. Some even claim to have seen the figure of a man with an axe standing in one of the upstairs windows.

El Alamín in Villa del Prado, on the other hand, is an example of a haunted village. This small settlement, located about 50 kilometers from Madrid, was abandoned in the 1960s. According to local legends, the reason for the village's abandonment was not economic reasons, as officially reported, but a series of inexplicable phenomena and tragic events that haunted the residents. Stories speak of strange illnesses that affected only the residents of El Alamín, of nocturnal visits from mysterious figures and of children who disappeared without a trace.

Today only ruins remain of the village, but those who have dared to visit them tell of the strange, overwhelming atmosphere of the place. Even on sunny days there is semi-darkness, and the silence is so deep that you can hear your own heartbeat. Some claim to have heard whispers and laughter coming from the empty houses, while others swear they have seen figures flitting between the ruins.

When comparing the three sites, it's worth noting that each represents a different kind of haunted place. Casa de las Siete Chimeneas is an elegant, historic building in the city center, LA MANSIÓN is an abandoned but still impressive mansion in the suburbs, and El Alamín is the ruins of an entire village. They also differ in accessibility - Casa de las Siete Chimeneas can be admired from the outside while walking around Madrid, LA MANSIÓN is harder to find and officially off-limits to the public (though that doesn't stop ghost hunters), and El Alamín requires a special trip outside the city.

The Linares Palace, also known as Casa de América, is one of the most elegant buildings in Madrid, located in Cibeles Square. Built in the 19th century for the Marquis de Linares, José de Murga, it hides a dark secret that has fascinated residents of the Spanish capital for years. According to the most popular version of the legend, the marquis fell in love and married a beautiful girl, not knowing that she was his half-sister. When the truth came out, the couple, unable to bear the thought of incest, but also not wanting to separate, decided on a tragic step - they murdered their newborn daughter and then committed suicide.

Since then, the baby's cries and the woman's sobs have reportedly been heard in the palace. Employees and visitors have also reported other unexplainable phenomena - from strange noises and footsteps in empty corridors to the feeling of someone's presence and sudden drops in temperature. Ghosts are said to be particularly active in the Marquis' former bedroom and the children's room on the second floor.

Interestingly, during the palace's renovation in the 1990s, workers discovered a hidden room and in it the skeleton of a small child, which only fueled the legend. Today, the Palacio de Linares is home to Casa de América, an institution that promotes Latin American culture, but its dark past still attracts paranormal seekers.

It is worth comparing all seven haunted places in Spain in terms of their accessibility, type of haunting and intensity of paranormal phenomena.

In terms of accessibility, the easiest to visit are the Alcázar in Segovia, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara and the Palace of Linares, which are open to tourists and offer regular tours. Casa de las Siete Chimeneas can only be admired from the outside, as the inside houses a government institution. Loarre Castle, though a bit off the main tourist routes, is also open to the public. The most difficult to visit are LA MANSIÓN and El Alamín, which are abandoned and officially off-limits to the public.

As for the type of hauntings, the Alcázar in Segovia, Castillo de Santa Bárbara and Loarre Castle are dominated by the spirits of historical figures - royal mistresses, knights and monks. At Casa de las Siete Chimeneas and Linares Palace, we are confronted with the ghosts of victims of tragic loves and family secrets. LA MANSIÓN and El Alamín, on the other hand, are places marked by mass tragedies and collective hauntings.

As for the intensity of paranormal phenomena, the most active spirits are said to reside in the Palacio de Linares and LA MANSIÓN, where the widest range of unexplainable phenomena has been reported, from sounds and voices to full-blown ghostly manifestations. At the Alcázar in Segovia, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara and Loarre Castle, the phenomena are rarer but more spectacular - mainly full manifestations of spirits under certain circumstances (such as during a full moon). Casa de las Siete Chimeneas and El Alamín are mainly famous for their strange, overwhelming atmosphere and occasional sound phenomena.

Also worth mentioning are the admission prices to these places. The Alcázar in Segovia and Castillo de Santa Bárbara offer moderately priced tickets, with discounts for students and seniors. Loarre Castle and Linares Palace are slightly cheaper. Casa de las Siete Chimeneas can be viewed from the outside for free, and LA MANSIÓN and El Alamín, as abandoned sites, do not have official entrance tickets (although visiting them may involve other risks).

All in all, each of these seven haunted places in Spain offers unique experiences for lovers of paranormal phenomena and historical mysteries. From royal castles to abandoned villages, each has its own dark history waiting to be discovered. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these places are sure to give you an unforgettable experience and give you a completely different perspective on Spain.