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Discover the Legends of Spain

Spain is home to a vast range of natural wonders that are a sight to behold —
from semi-desert plains and hills to lush pre-historic forests carved with
gorges and brimming with wildlife, and mountainous nature reserves.

While these locations offer breathtaking vistas and trails filled with flora and
fauna that are an explorer’s dream, you can also follow paths filled with
fascinating legends from centuries past that live on in local culture and
traditions today. 

Legend has it that Sancho de Rota, who was known as the “Robin Hood of the
Desert” for stealing from the rich to help the poor, evaded the guards of King
Juan II of Aragon by laying low in the semidesert landscape of what is now the
Bardenas Reales Nature Reserve in Navarre.

Garajonay National Park, on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, which offers laurel
forests among gorges masked in greenery, is named after Princess Gara and her
true love, Jonay, from the neighboring island of Tenerife. After it was foretold
that their union would bring terrible misfortune, they were forbidden to be
together, ending in heartbreak and tragedy.

It is also said that Mari, a goddess in Basque mythology who looks after nature,
lives on the eastern slope of the magnificent Mount Anboto, found in the Urkiola
Nature Reserve, in Basque Country. Within the park, you’ll also find the Urkiola
Shrine (Santuario de Urkiola), a pilgrimage site, as well as a giant rock that,
legend has it, will bring love to any single man who walks around it three
times.

Learn More About the Legends



 

Bardenas Reales Nature Reserve, Navarre




Situated in Navarre, in Northern Spain, the Bardenas Reales Nature Reserve,
which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000, is known for its
semidesert landscape, featuring wide plains, interspersed with ravines, cliffs
and hills that reach 2,000 feet in height – perfect for Sancho de Rota’s
hideaway.

Within the Bardenas Reales, the scenery shifts dramatically. The white,
lunar-like landscape of the Bardena Blanca features dramatic ravines and
summits, like the breathtaking Castildetierra. By contrast, the area known as
Bardena Negra is thick with Aleppo pine forests and vegetation.

The Reserve is home to 24 species of birds of prey, more than 28 species of
mammals, and almost 450 miles of cycling and hiking trails, offering
adventurers, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts a chance to experience
scenery not found anywhere else.

Learn More


Garajonay National Park, La Gomera, Canary Islands




While Garajonay National Park is named after the magical legend of Gara and
Jonay, walking through the labyrinth of moss-covered trees found within the park
can feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale.

Situated in a micro-climate in the middle of La Gomera, one of the smallest of
the seven Canary Islands, Garajonay National Park has mild temperatures and high
humidity year-round. It’s home to an extremely diverse ecosystem of plant life,
and more than 1,000 species of animals, many of which are unique to La Gomera.
Outside of the lush forests, you’ll find volcanic mountains covered in greenery.
From the top of Alto de Garajonay, the highest point on the island, views
stretch across the island, to the ocean and beyond.

With 18 routes throughout the park of varying difficulty, and free guided tours,
it’s easy to take in the beauty of Garajonay National Park.


  Learn More



Urkiola Nature Reserve, Basque Country


Located in Northern Spain, within the mountain ranges of Anboto and Aramotz, the
Urkiola Nature Reserve is one of the most unique ecosystems in Basque Country,
and the legends, mythology and history of the land influenced the reserve’s
creation. 

The highest point is Anboto, which stands at 4,363 feet, and the land is made up
of stunning, crest-shaped limestone formations with ravines and deep valleys.
While the terrain is rugged, it’s perfect for climbing and hiking, with trails
for all ages and abilities. Along the way, observatories are set up to view the
abundant wildlife, and visitors can take in the magnificent views of the
surrounding forests, mountains and grasslands.

Learn More




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