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La Casa Magica: House of Curiosities in Costa Brava

I wouldn’t want to be here alone at night. 

That’s the thought that keeps playing over and over in my head as I tour the strange and unexpectedly spooky interiors of La Casa Magica or House of Magic in Santa Cristina d’Aro, a museum of magic (a first for me) owned by distinguished Catalan illusionist Xevi. A respected personality in the world of magic, his illustrious career spans over half a century of live shows, radio, T.V., books, and theater and an audience with the likes of Salvador Dali. It isn’t surprising then that he is impeccably dressed in a regal velvet jacket even when it’s just a bunch of us regular folks he’s leading through the curiously decorated hallways of the house built in the 1850s.

La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
Xevi

On the outside, the house looks just like any other until I pay attention; a pair of hands on the balcony, a statue of an armed guard outside the front door, a deck of cards impossibly balanced in the air where I would expect potted plants and I know that this is going to be interesting. Xevi and his daughter lead the way and we are in a room with a piano that is playing itself. On the walls are photos of the illusionist from over the decades, caricatures of other personalities who I think are eminent in the field, and many award certificates.

Next door is a chapel that I imagine isn’t exactly where anyone would want to go for a moment of peace. A green-eyed serpent rests in the right hand of a figure reading a book. I have no desire to spend time here and I move on to the other areas of the house.

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There is a lot to take in inside the dimly lit rooms; painting and photographs of the likes of Houdini cover the walls, jars of preserved lizards, spiders, snakes and frogs line the shelves, a pair of hands deals cards on a table, and dragons and demons spring at you from unassuming corners. An old wine cellar is home to witches and sinister, horned creatures, and a bloodied head lies next to work tools under a staircase.

La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
I wouldn’t want to stumble upon this.
La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
I thought these creepy heads were cool.
La Casa Magica
The photo on the right is of Xevi with Dali.
1-IMG_2397-001

This is, without a doubt, the largest collection of curiosities I’ve ever seen and this isn’t even all of what Xevi owns. “I have enough for three museums,” he has already told us. The topmost level is decidedly a nicer place with Marilyn Monroe seated on a chair next to her portrait.

La Casa Magica
Marilyn looks happy

Here’s what happens when you get a little closer.

La Casa Magica
And then turns into Einstein

We are outside again and Xevi is performing a little card trick for us in the garden with the practiced flair of a showman. He promises to let us in on the secret, holding our attention with the swift movements of his hands turning around the large card. “One,” we repeat after him, “four,” and then “three”. He reveals a blank spot instead of the third heart that he hid behind his fingers while holding the card. He looks satisfied to see us fooled and explains that making us repeat after him reinforced our trust in what we were being shown. Who says that a magician never reveals his secrets?

La Casa Magica
La Casa Magica
Bloggers being silly

Tip: The museum is open to adults and children but entry is by advance reservation only (call the number listed on their website). Tours are led by Xevi and his daughter.

My visit to La Casa Magica was organized by Visit Costa Brava. All opinions, as always, are independent.

Have you ever visited a museum of curiosities like La Casa Magica? Would you be interested?

Andreja Jernejčič

Monday 14th of September 2015

Nop, not for me. I hate creepy places and horror movies. And there are snakes! I hate snakes!

Natasha Amar

Monday 14th of September 2015

Haha! They weren't real so nothing to fear Andreja!

Nic from Roaming Renegades

Sunday 13th of September 2015

I love places like this, so creepy but in a fascinating way! Would love to explore here!

Natasha Amar

Sunday 13th of September 2015

Yes me too, though when I was there I wasn't sure how I felt about it ;)

Sonal Kwatra

Friday 11th of September 2015

Oh GOD! Those creepy heads can give anyone a nightmare!

Alana

Tuesday 8th of September 2015

Hi Natasha- What an interesting place! It's always fun to stumble across these quirky places! We actually just booked flights over to Barcelona in October and are working on building our itinerary for Spain. I'll be looking through all of your Spain posts this evening!

Natasha Amar

Wednesday 9th of September 2015

Enjoy your travels to Spain!

Nikoleta Míchalová

Tuesday 8th of September 2015

That's such a cool place. Where did you manage to dig it up?

Natasha Amar

Tuesday 8th of September 2015

It's in Costa Brava in Spain in a little town called Sant Feliu de Guixols :)

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