Habelas Hainas: Witchcraft and Sorcery in Galicia

About this tour

Explore Galicia's shadowy past through the lens of magic and persecution. This 1 hour 45 minute walking tour threads through Vigo's centre, tracing how the Inquisition documented folk practitioners and their craft. You'll learn about rituals, incantations and grimoires that terrified authorities, uncovering how ordinary people came to be branded sorcerers. A guide leads you through archives and street corners alike, revealing how mountains and forests once sheltered those who defied religious doctrine.

Highlights

• Inquisitorial records detailing accusations and trials
• Types of folk magic practised across Galician communities
• Rituals, spells and forbidden texts that alarmed the Church
• Street-by-street history of Vigo's witchcraft landscape
• Local recommendations for food and further exploration
• Accessible route suitable for all fitness levels

What to expect

Your guide will walk you through Vigo's city centre, pausing at locations tied to documented cases and practices. Expect discussion of how magic was understood and weaponised as heresy—the difference between healers, cunning folk and those labelled witches. You'll hear about grimoires and prayers that made their way into Inquisitorial files. This isn't sensationalism; it's a careful look at how fear, superstition and institutional power collided in early modern Galicia. The pace is leisurely, allowing time for questions and observation.

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