Santa Amalia mystery stories. Serna's cave and treasure.

Many time ago an old man lived in Ramón y Cajal street, here, in Santa Amalia. His name: Sr. Mariano. When I was 18 years old, that is, in 2002, he was already very old, over 90 years old. He knew a lot of stories and legends about Santa Amalia. He used to talk to me and to my friends. One of the most interesting stories he told us was the legend of Serna's cave and treasure.

Who was Serna?

Serna was a bandit who lived and died at the end of the XIX century. He used to assault carts and stagecoaches in the Royal Way, a very old path from Madrid to Badajoz. Serna worked alone: he didn't trust anyone.

What happened to him?

The thing is not very clear. Sr. Mariano told us that Serna had suddenly dissapeared on 1899. Some people said he has been killed by La Guardia Civil in a shooting, in the middle of the forest. Other people suspected that he has escaped to Andalucía. The fact: he never returned again. This story would not be interesting "per se"... But there is something that changes everything: a treasure.

The treasure.

Indeed, Serna was a very efficient outlaw. There are many testimonies of assaulted travellers telling that Serna took from them silver coins, jewels, banknotes, gold... However, Serna did not expend this money. He had a very humble life, even poor, hunting in the forest and stealing from travellers. So... Where was all that loot? Well, Sr Mariano told us that in Valdecabreros, a country estate close to Alico, there is a hidden cave, in the middle of a very thick forest. Many people suspected that Serna had buried all his treasure in that cave or somewhere close to that place. 

So, if you have someone who knows Valdecabreros, maybe you can start a treasure hunt. Perhaps you'll become rich.