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An entire town was forcibly evacuated nearly 60 years ago due to a government error. Granadilla was never flooded, but its residents were never able to return. Today, this Spanish ghost town still stands as an open-air museum full of mysteries and forgotten memories.
Have you ever imagined being forced to leave your own home, with no right to return, for a reason that later turned out to be completely wrong? Well, that's exactly what happened to the residents of Granadilla, a small Spanish town that ended up becoming a Spanish ghost town due to an absurd government error.
Today, almost 60 years later, the city remains empty, but it has not been forgotten. Quite the opposite! It has become a curious tourist destination, where you can walk through the silent streets and imagine what life was like there before everything fell apart.
A historic mistake that cost thousands of people their homes
Granadilla was not just another small town. Founded in the 9th century, it had a strategic location on the Ruta de la Plata, one of Spain’s most important trade routes. This meant that for a long time, the city was a key transit point for merchants, travelers, and even troops.
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But then came the bombshell. In 1955, Francisco Franco's regime decided that the city needed to be evacuated in order to build the Gabriel y Galán reservoir. Residents were told that their homes would be flooded and had no choice: either leave or leave.
The problem? The water never covered the city.
Just imagine: you fight to stay in your city, you refuse to believe that you will actually be expelled, and in the end, you discover that it was all in vain. That's what happened to the residents of Granadilla. They resisted as much as they could, but in 1969, the last of them were forcibly removed.
And the worst part? The government banned any of them from returning, even after realizing that the town was never completely flooded. Granadilla became a Spanish ghost town by decree, without any real justification.
Time passed, and what was once a place full of life became a scene of abandonment. Empty houses, deserted streets and a silence that seems to tell stories of longing.
The rebirth as a ghost town
But all was not lost. In 1980, Granadilla was declared a Site of Historic and Artistic Importance, and parts of it began to be restored. Not to bring back residents, but to turn the place into an open-air museum.
Today, visitors to Granadilla can walk through its silent streets, explore the old buildings and experience firsthand what it is like to live in a city frozen in time. It's almost like entering a portal to the past..
Even without inhabitants, Granadilla still has its charm
The Moorish Wall
Built in the 9th century, this wall is one of the best preserved in Spain. Those who walk along it can imagine what the city was like in ancient times, with its fortified gates and stone streets.
The Medieval Castle
If there is one point that draws attention, it is the 15th century castle. The main tower, which is still standing, offers an incredible view of the region. It is the kind of place that makes anyone stop for a few minutes just to take in the view.
The Silent Streets
Walking through Granadilla is like walking through a history book – but without having to turn the pages. The houses, even empty, seem full of memories. The most impressive thing is to see how the city remained practically intact., as if it were just waiting for its residents to return.
Congratulations on the excellent report.
I've been passing by there for the past 20 years and didn't know about it. I'll check out the exact location and try to get to know it in
June. I love European lakes because they don't have piranhas, alligators, and even less anacondas.