The House of the Seven Chimneys or my failed attempt at reading the memories of a place
May 11th, 2025
I believe in magic. Not just because I have chosen to, but because I have seen magic happen in my life and in the lives of those close to me. Miracles, big and small, are everywhere around us. We just need to learn to recognize them. And to create them as well ;)
Very naturally, I am deeply curious about the magical arts and esoteric practices. I have explored some of them myself as a client and have even tried my hand at practicing a few (boo!).
As part of research for my new book, I recently joined a marathon to enhance intuition. It is pretty straightforward and does not require much time—just one task per month that must be completed by a predetermined date. Generally, each task takes less than one hour to finish, and they do not require any specialized knowledge.
The task for this month is something I have been marveling at for years: to attempt to read the memories of a geographical location—how it feels and what may have happened there.
I know that some people are very good at reading objects and places. I have often wished to develop this skill myself, whether in my genealogical research or in exploring various fascinating items. Here was my chance to give it a try! ;)
I happened to be in Madrid on the day of the task. After listening to the instructions, I searched online for intriguing historical sites. One location, in particular, caught my attention—the House of the Seven Chimneys. The brief description said there was a ghost story associated with it. So, I went there to test my supernatural abilities ;) I didn’t want to cheat, so I purposefully didn’t any of its stories beforehand.
The building is quite large. The size of a small palace, I’d say. Made mostly of red brick, it isn’t very beautiful or elegant, and the 7 chimneys all situated on one side make me curious about how the opposite side was heated. Unfortunately, there was no way to get inside and take a look.
I don’t like red brick. I know conveys warmth, but to me, it looks very industrial (the opposite of cozy). Nonetheless, the building felt warm to the touch, which made me think that it was constructed with love and care for the people who would live there. My impression was that it was designed to be a happy place.
My guess is that the first floor with small windows was used by servants. The second floor likely served as common areas, including a dining room, library, workspaces, and possibly a ballroom. And the upper floor, where windows have small balconies, was probably intended for sleeping quarters. There are also several small windows protruding from the roof, which may have been extra rooms for servants.
Today, all the windows are dark and reflective, as if the building were closed off from the outside world, concealing its secrets. This made me think that someone within this building has suffered unjustly, and because the situation remains unresolved, the building seems reluctant to open up to the outside, as if it no longer believes in the possibility of justice prevailing.
As for the ghost stories, the one that my imagination conjured is about a young woman who jumped from the gallery at the top of the newest section of the building. For some reason, I think that if there were a ghost, it would be wandering that gallery. I envision her as a spirit dressed in flowing white garments, with her hair elegantly styled.
The entrance to the building is also very impressive. It is large and made of wood, adorned with metallic rivets, handles, and a knocker.
I envisioned three figures from the past who might have touched that door: a fat Catholic monk in his brown tunic and sandals, a wealthy gentleman wearing long leather gloves and a feathered hat, and a desperate young woman or adolescent who pounded on the door until her arm bled.
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Several hours later, I read the real stories and legends of this place online. All of my guesses were so far from reality that it was funny ;)))
According to historical accounts, the house was constructed in 1576 during the reign of King Felipe II. At that time, it was located on the outskirts of the city and was surrounded by orchards and gardens. The residence was intended as a home for one of the king’s huntsmen, who had a beautiful daughter named Elena. It is rumored that Elena was the secret lover of Felipe II, and the house served as the place for their secret meetings (Elena was of a noble lineage, but not enough for marrying a king).
But then Elena married Captain Zapata, probably to silence the rumors about her alleged affairs with the king.
Their marriage was short-lived, because Zapata died while fighting in the Flanders War during the Battle of San Quentin.
It is said that Elena was so devastated by his death that she locked herself in her room, refused to eat, and ultimately died of grief there. However, before her passing, she gave birth to a daughter whose fate and father remain unknown.
Servants claimed that Elena had been killed and that some of them had seen dagger wounds on her body. However, when the authorities ordered an investigation into her death, her body mysteriously disappeared. Rumors linked Elena’s death to the king, who feared that his newborn illegitimate daughter would pose a threat to the throne.
Finally, Elena’s father was accused of murdering his daughter. He committed suicide by hanging himself from a beam of that same house.
Centuries later, in the late 1800s, the Bank of Castilla acquired the building and renovated it. In the basement, the workers found the skeleton of a woman and several sixteenth-century gold coins.
Another source states that in the 1950s, during another round of renovation work, another skeleton was discovered. This time, it was a skeleton of a man, and, as in the previous case, the identity of the skeleton remains a mystery.
Regarding the ghost stories, for many years, people have claimed that the ghost of a woman wanders around the roof, among the seven chimneys. She has been seen walking to a spot from which the Alcazar (the former royal residence) can be seen in the distance, kneeling and striking her own chest just before disappearing. Some believe that the ghost is Elena, wrongfully murdered by the orders of her royal lover. Others suggest that it is their daughter, who was likely locked in the house until her death.
Looks like reading memories of places isn’t my cup of tea ;-) But now I’m sure that I will never forget this particular ghost story ;-)
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Categories: Miscellaneous