
Legends of Spain
The Spanish are a nation of storytellers, inspired by a shifting geography that evokes the imagination so well. Travelling through its diverse environments, Spain’s legendary voice will guide you, as it has centuries of novelists and poets.
Enter a realm of mountains, dragons, and paradise on Earth

National Geographic photographer Matthieu Paley is in the ancient city of Madrid, investigating the meaning of a phrase uttered by proud Madridians for more than 400 years.
Stairways to heaven
Stairways to heaven
From the rooftops of Madrid to the stone steps and peaks of the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, the people of the Spanish capital have long looked to the skies for legends that reflect their eternal pursuit of the good life.Voyage to the folkloric Canary Islands

Photographer Matthieu Paley travels across the eight Canary Islands in search of one that disappears and reappears
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Eight paradises, and the legend of a ninth
Each of the Canary Islands is a world unto itself. But certain features are shared across the archipelago, not to mention persistent whispers of one more island…
Eight shades of paradise across the Canaries
Eight shades of paradise across the Canaries
Eight inhabited isles make up the Canary Islands archipelago, with whispers or a ninth. Searching for it will give you the voyage of a lifetime.An island born of fire
An island born of fire
Devil dances and demon goats emerge from beneath Lanzarote’s crust, bringing the most incredible culture, food, and festivities along with them.An island among the stars
An island among the stars
Gran Canaria is a traveler’s paradise of golden coastline with beaches of every flavor. But venture a little farther, wait for the sun to go down, and the experience becomes legendary.Move through lands that inspired myths

Asturias’ misty mountains are said to hide ancient serpent creatures. The path to Cuélebre also leads you through landscapes rich in historic delights.
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Mysteries of a medieval Kingdom
Ancient yet undiscovered, the dramatic landscape of Asturias reaches into coastal caves and mountain caverns that hold the secrets to thousands of years of mythology, history, and gastronomy.
Myths and memories run deep in lesser known reaches of Spain