The Haunted Road to Jafra: The Ghost Town of Catalonia Where the Girl on the Curve Still Appears
Jafra, also known as Jafre del Garraf, is an abandoned village located in Spain's Catalonia region. It sits on a hill at about 189 meters above sea level, and today only ruins remain. But Jafra is more than just a ghost town — it is wrapped in legends of Melinda, the mysterious “girl on the curve”, whose spirit is said to haunt the unpaved road leading to the village and the crumbling ruins within.
Where is Jafra?
The abandoned town is located in Garraf comarca, southwest of Barcelona, in the northeastern part of the country, within the Parc Natural del Garraf, near Sitges and Castelldefels.
What’s the history of Jafra?
The first written record of Jafra dates back to 1139. Life in the village was never easy: the land was arid and rocky, with very little water, making farming extremely difficult. People cultivated wheat, vines, and livestock (mainly goats and wool), while also hunting hares, partridges, and rabbits. There was even a small distillery (fassina) for producing brandy and selling wine.
Decline and Abandonment of Jafra
Jafra was always poor in resources, but the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century devastated its vineyards, worsening the situation. Like many rural communities in Spain, it suffered a massive exodus as people left for towns with running water, sewer systems, and better living conditions.
By around 1950, the town was abandoned. The church and cemetery were desecrated, and the remains were transferred to Olivella. In the 1960s, there were still about 30 scattered masías in the area, of which 12 belonged to Jafra and the rest to Olivella. Many of these later turned into housing developments or were sold as plots to outsiders.
Since then, Jafra has remained in ruins. Only parts of the Casa del Baró, the masover’s house, the rectory, and the church of Santa Maria de Jafre still stand. Over time, the abandoned buildings were vandalized, robbed, and looted.
In 1997, the Diputació de Barcelona bought the 214 hectares of land. A project called Projecte Jovial began restoring the village in 2003, but it was quickly abandoned, and today there are no plans to resume it. To limit vandalism and ghost hunters, all official access points have been closed off by the Diputació.
The Legend of Melinda, the “Niña de la Curva”
The fame of Jafra is tied to the legend of Melinda, known locally as its own “niña de la curva”.
According to the story, a wealthy Austrian family moved into the masía El Maset de Dalt y de Baix. Their children suffered from a serious skin disease that forced them to live away from sunlight, isolated from the world. Visitors were forbidden.
The mother died giving birth to Melinda, the family’s only daughter. Soon after, her older siblings died, likely from the illness. Overcome by grief and fear of losing Melinda, the father is said to have lost his sanity.
One day, while chasing Melinda in the garden, she fell into a well and disappeared forever — along with her father, who was never seen again. Since then, legends say her ghost still roams the streets and woods of Jafra.
Ghostly Sightings on the Road
Travelers driving the unpaved road to the town claim to have seen Melinda appear, just like the classic tale of the “girl on the curve.”
In the forest trails around the ghost town, some say Melinda appears to guide lost visitors out of danger, pointing the way to safety. Others have reported hearing psychophonic voices in the cemetery or witnessing black masses in the ruins.
There are even accounts of UFO sightings in the skies above Jafra, adding to its reputation as one of the most mysterious places in Catalonia.
Visiting Jafra Today
Reaching Jafra involves narrow, winding mountain roads through the Garraf massif, adding to its eerie reputation, especially at night. While it is technically abandoned and official access has been restricted, some visitors still explore the site.
The most notable ruins are:
- The church of Santa María de Jafre, listed in the Architectural Heritage Inventory of Catalonia.
- The Casa del Baró, once the residence of the Baron of Jafra, now reduced to collapsed walls.
- The remains of the masover’s house and the old cemetery.
Today, Jafra is officially abandoned and in ruins, but its mix of tragic legends, ghost stories, and paranormal activity makes it one of Catalonia’s most haunted destinations.
How long is the road to Jafra?
The road to the town is totally unpaved, but most passenger vehicles can handle it, especially when it’s dry. Starting from Olivella, the road is 11.4 km (7.08 miles) long. There’s even a small parking lot near the ruins of the abandoned town.