The Powerful Woman Known as Maria Solina - The Most Famous Witch of Galicia

Witchcraft has a very special place in the culture of Spanish Galicia. One of the most famous people related to the old magical traditions is Maria Soliña, a Galician witch who lived during the 17th century. Despite her openness about supernatural practices, the intelligence of this remarkable woman allowed her to avoid the stake during the Inquisition.

The Ria de Vigo is one of the Rias Baixas bays of Galicia. Each of these bodies of water is full of wrecks and old stories that excite researchers even today. The history of Galicia is a mixture of Celtic tales, Roman legends, and witchcraft heritage, mixed with the expansion of Christianity. Thus, witches and Celtic amulets are still an unbreakable part of Galician culture.

Life of the Witch from Galicia

There are not too many references related to Maria Soliña’s life. All that is known can be written in a very small document. She was born in 1551 in Cangas, but her family roots are unknown. Cangas was a town full of fishermen, like most of the rest of Galicia. However, there was also a monastery of nuns in the town.