PODCAST: The wizard, the vampire and the curse – Dark tales from Barcelona's Old Town

 

Episode 17 of Filling the Sink wanders through the dark alleys of Barcelona's Old Town to bring you three tales, about a wizard, a vampire and a curse. Press play below to listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

  

Cillian Shields on the medieval wizard Astruc Sacanera, still talked about 600 years later. A narrow street in the city's Gothic Quarter, Carrer d'Estruc, is named after this ancient herbalist, and a plaque there commemorates his magical life.

Maria Jesús Navarro from CultRuta recounts a dark tale of kidnapped children, of blood and bones and the bourgeoisie. Just over one hundred years ago, Catalan society was gripped when a young girl, Teresita Guitart, went missing. It's the story of Enriqueta Martí, The Vampire of Raval.

Scarlett Reiners tells of the curse afflicting one of Barcelona's most iconic buildings, the Liceu. Burned down and bombed over the years, are the many disasters that have befallen the famous opera house the result of upsetting some angry monks?

Presented by Lorcan Doherty.

Listen to more episodes of Filling the Sink below.