The Ghosts of the Monastery of the Devil in Carmona, Seville: Spain’s Forgotten Hell Gate

Hidden among olive groves and rural roads near Carmona, in the province of Seville, Andalusia, lies the ruins of a once-sacred place now infamous for its ties to the occult and paranormal activity,  the so-called “Monastery of the Devil” (Monasterio del Diablo).

Though few tourists visit and even fewer locals speak of it by name, this decaying structure is considered one of Spain’s most haunted places, and its legend is as chilling as it is mysterious.

A Sacred Beginning, a Sinister Legacy

The origins of the building, officially known as the Monasterio de San Francisco, date back to the 15th century, when it was established by Franciscan monks as a humble place of worship and retreat. Over time, it expanded into a modest monastery surrounded by quiet farmland.

But by the 18th century, it was abandoned under mysterious circumstances. Some believe it fell victim to disease and poverty. Others whisper of heretical rituals, internal corruption, and blasphemous practices that led to divine punishment or something darker. With its abandonment, local legends flourished. They claimed the monastery was cursed. And that something evil had been awakened.

Paranormal Activity: Reports of Hauntings

Today, the ruined arches and crumbling stone corridors of the monastery are frequently visited by urban explorers, thrill-seekers, and paranormal investigators. Many of them leave with stories they can’t explain.

Common ghostly reports include:

• Apparitions of monks, cloaked in black or brown, seen silently walking through doorways or disappearing into walls.
• Satanic symbols and burned offerings discovered around the site, suggesting the monastery may be used in modern-day occult rituals.
• Disembodied chanting and prayers in Latin echoing at night.
• A female ghost, referred to as “La Novicia” (The Novice), said to roam the chapel ruins, weeping softly and vanishing when approached.
• Unexplained animal carcasses and ritual circles, found near the altar, with locals blaming clandestine groups or cults.

The Devil’s Gateway: A Portal to the Other Side?

Perhaps the most disturbing tale associated with the monastery is that it is home to a “gate to hell”  a spiritual vortex or portal beneath the building’s former altar. According to local legends, monks once tried to summon or banish demonic forces there, and instead opened a doorway that could not be closed.

Visitors have described feeling a magnetic pull or intense vertigo near the altar remains. Some report blacking out, hearing voices, or experiencing hours lost without memory. One psychic investigator claimed the place holds a “concentration of evil energy unlike any other in Spain.”

Disappearances and Deaths

Over the decades, multiple disappearances have been associated with the monastery grounds. While most are explained by lost hikers or trespassers injured in the ruins, at least one local teen was never found after daring friends to stay the night. In the 1990s, a researcher from Seville reportedly died of a heart attack near the site, despite being young and healthy. His notebook, later recovered, contained scribbled lines repeating the phrase: “He walks among us.”

A Word of Caution

While the monastery is not an official tourist site and is in a dangerous state of decay, it continues to attract curious souls. Police and emergency services warn against visiting after dark due to structural instability and risk of criminal activity. But for those who dare… the experience is said to be unforgettable. And sometimes, irreversible.

Final Thoughts: Faith and Fear in Carmona

The Monastery of the Devil is a powerful symbol, a place where faith, legend, and fear collide. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the stories that cling to these ruined walls speak of a deep unease, a spiritual wound in the land itself.

The question remains: Was this place corrupted by men—or claimed by something far worse?

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