Explore historic prisons and preserved dungeons as part of summer travel

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Summer isperfect for escaping the daily routine and finding a new kind of adventure. There are many plans that can be enjoyed without leaving the peninsula, but one of the most intriguing summer ideas is prison tourism.

Although it may sound unusual, many travelers choose to honor the history behind places that once housed confinement. They visit sites that seem dark and intense like ancient catacombs or old prisons. More people are drawn to understand the harsh realities of prison life, a curiosity sparked by television shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Prison Break, and Vis a Vis. In some regions there are prisons that can be toured, offering a glimpse into the past that remains largely unknown to the public.

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In Broto Valley, Huesca, a massive stone tower stood guard for centuries, functioning as a defense for a medieval bridge and gradually taking on the form of a prison from the 14th century. The engravings inside were created by detainees who spent days in a harsh setting, their religious drawings, prayers, and day counts revealing the grim daily life of those imprisoned there.

In 2005 a restoration opened the site to visitors. The dungeons reveal brutal conditions where prisoners endured harsh, almost inhuman treatment. Some were suspended by the arms or wrists, a scene that echoes cinema. The cold mountain climate and the river nearby compounded the misery they faced.

In the Aragon region of Matarraña visitors can tour several former prison centers and old dungeons where inmates endured difficult moments. East of Teruel, towns like Mazaleón, La Fresneda, and Rafales preserve the 16th century atmosphere and features typical of that era.

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Hidden among municipal buildings on ground floors are dark, unventilated rooms that once served as dungeons. Chains, locks, doors, and graffiti still tell the story of the people who suffered there. In this region there are twelve dungeons open to curious visitors.

Right in the center of Barcelona, a striking building hides a surprising secret. The Model Prison, also known as the Barcelona Men’s Prison Center, opened in 1904. It closed its doors in 2017 after more than a century of service.

Cuevas de Canelobre offers a cooler escape from the heat. This site holds a powerful memory of political oppression under Franco and earlier dictatorships, with ordinary detainees and political dissidents among the inmates. Today, access is free and no prior registration is required.

The town of Pedraza in Segovia is rich with tourist attractions, including Plaza Mayor and the Ignacio Zuluaga museum. Its medieval prison, built in the 13th century and restored three centuries later, once punished drunkenness, thefts, and other crimes, while more dangerous inmates endured harsher, inhumane conditions in the basement.

In Lugo, the city council opened the Vello Carcere sociocultural center in 2017. The building now hosts a permanent exhibition that sheds light on its prison past, transforming the old facility into a space for learning and reflection.

A prison pavilion in Zamora, once part of the state system during the Franco era, housed priests and clergy who faced punishment for political and religious reasons. The former complex separated these inmates from the ordinary population, marking a notable chapter in the history of justice and control.

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The renowned Basque poet Xabier Amuriza spent days in a prison center and left a lasting memory with a song that echoes the region and its history. Zamora has a story that continues to be spoken and remembered through culture, song, and place-based memory.

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