![Xabi Alonso Xabi Alonso](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/xabi-alonso-1.jpg)
Junípero Serra was a Roman Catholic priest who is credited with founding the Franciscan Missions of the Sierra Gorda. He is also credited with founding nine of the 21 Spanish missions in California. On 25 September 1988, Junípero Serra was beatified in the Vatican City by Pope John Paul II. On 23 September 2015, he was canonized by Pope Francis.
![Manolo Blahnik Manolo Blahnik](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/manolo-blahnik-1.jpg)
Spanish pianist Manuel de Falla, known for his musical nationalism, was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Born in Cádiz, Falla initially learned playing the piano from his mother, and later went to Madrid for further training. His work also took him to France and Argentina.
![Cecilia Suárez Cecilia Suárez](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/cecilia-surez-1.jpg)
![Mina El Hammani Mina El Hammani](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mina-el-hammani-1.jpg)
![José Manuel Pinto José Manuel Pinto](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jos-manuel-pinto-1.jpg)
Spanish retired professional footballer José Manuel Pinto Colorado made his La Liga debut with RC Celta de Vigo and won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy with the team. He later signed with Barcelona and went on to win sixteen major titles with the team, including four national championships and two Champions Leagues.
![Francisco Tárrega Francisco Tárrega](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/francisco-trrega-1.jpg)
Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist active during the Romantic period. He is often considered the father of classical guitar and is counted among the greatest guitarists of all time. He loved music from an early age and was able to build a successful career with his father’s encouragement. He died at the peak of his career.
![Jesús Navas Jesús Navas](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jess-navas-1.jpg)
![Mireia Lalaguna Mireia Lalaguna](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mireia-lalaguna-1.jpg)
![Alfonso X of Castile Alfonso X of Castile](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alfonso-x-of-castile-1.jpg)
Alfonso X had served as the king of Castile and Leon in the 13th century. A patron of scholars, he readily participated in editing and writing their treatises. Apart from encouraging law and science, he also penned Galician poetry and established the Siete partidas law code, inspired by Roman law.
![Ana Fernandez Garcia Ana Fernandez Garcia](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ana-fernandez-garcia-99768-1.jpg)
![Aitana Sánchez-Gijón Aitana Sánchez-Gijón](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/aitana-snchez-gijn-1.jpg)
![Raquel del Rosario Raquel del Rosario](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/raquel-del-rosario-1.jpg)
![Joaquín Rodrigo Joaquín Rodrigo](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joaqun-rodrigo-1.jpg)
Joaquín Rodrigo was a Spanish composer and a virtuoso pianist best known for composing the Concierto de Aranjuez. He lost his sight as a child and was encouraged by his parents to study music. He excelled in his musical education and began composing in braille as a young man. In 1983, he was awarded the Premio Nacional de Música.
![Francisco de Zurbarán Francisco de Zurbarán](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/francisco-de-zurbarn-1.jpg)
Francisco de Zurbarán was a Spanish painter known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs. He was also famous for his still-lifes. His forceful use of the chiaroscuro style of painting gained him the nickname "Spanish Caravaggio." He was much respected during his lifetime and was appointed painter to King Philip IV.
![Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/prince-carlos-of-bourbon-two-sicilies-29034-1.jpg)
Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was nephew of Francis II, the last King of the Two Sicilies. Carlos was given the title of Infante of Spain before his marriage to Mercedes, Princess of Asturias, daughter of the late King Alfonso XII of Spain. Carlos served the Spanish Army during the Spanish–American War and was later promoted as Inspector General.
![Alfonso VI of León and Castile Alfonso VI of León and Castile](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alfonso-vi-of-castile-1.jpg)
![Lope de Vega Lope de Vega](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lope-de-vega-1.jpg)
Spanish Baroque dramatist Lope de Vega was one of the most significant figures of the Spanish Golden Age. He had initially aspired to be a priest but abandoned his plans after falling in love with a married woman. He is best remembered for works such as The Dog in the Manger.
![Alfonso XII of Spain Alfonso XII of Spain](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alfonso-xii-of-spain-1.jpg)
![María Casares María Casares](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mara-casares-70327-1.jpg)
![Joan Gamper Joan Gamper](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joan-gamper-19114-1.jpg)
Swiss-born sports executive Joan Gamper is best remembered as the founder of the legendary football club FC Barcelona. A sports enthusiast since his childhood, he excelled in many sports, such as football, golf, and tennis. He died of suicide at age 52, apparently driven by depression related to financial issues.
![Anna of Austria, Queen of Spain Anna of Austria, Queen of Spain](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anna-of-austria-queen-of-spain-1.jpg)
![Maria Luisa of Spain Maria Luisa of Spain](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/maria-luisa-of-spain-1.jpg)
![La Belle Otero La Belle Otero](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/la-belle-otero-99698-1.jpg)
Charles II of Spain reigned as the king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. He was the last king from the House of Habsburg to rule the Spanish Empire. Despite suffering from many illnesses throughout his life, Charles proved to be a reasonably influential king. The town of Charleroi and the Caroline Islands in modern Belgium were named after Charles.
![Montserrat Martí Montserrat Martí](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/montserrat-mart-1.jpg)
The daughter of soprano Montserrat Caballé and tenor Bernabé Martí, Montserrat Martí, or Montsita, is a renowned Spanish soprano in her own right. Known for playing roles such as Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, she has also been part of many charitable concerts. She has also sung with her mother.
![Dani Rovira Dani Rovira](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/dani-rovira-100029-1.jpg)
![Ferdinand I of Aragon Ferdinand I of Aragon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ferdinand-i-of-aragon-1.jpg)
![Carmen Amaya Carmen Amaya](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/carmen-amaya-99773-1.jpg)
![Lope de Aguirre Lope de Aguirre](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lope-de-aguirre-1.jpg)
Lope de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador who lived and worked in South America. Dubbed the Madman, Aguirre is best remembered for his final expedition in search of Omagua and a mythical golden Kingdom known as El Dorado. Lope de Aguirre was killed during his last expedition down the Amazon River. Over the years, he has been antagonized in arts.
![Alfonso VIII of Castile Alfonso VIII of Castile](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/alfonso-viii-of-castile-1.jpg)
![Ruth Lorenzo Ruth Lorenzo](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/ruth-lorenzo-1.jpg)
![Miguel Maestre Miguel Maestre](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/miguel-maestre-131935-1.jpg)
![Vanessa Incontrada Vanessa Incontrada](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/vanessa-incontrada-122719-1.jpg)
![Paloma San Basilio Paloma San Basilio](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/paloma-san-basilio-1.jpg)
![Daniel Barenboim Daniel Barenboim](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/daniel-barenboim-9429-1.jpg)
Daniel Barenboim is a pianist and conductor currently serving as the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin. He has previously been the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, and La Scala in Milan. He is a recipient of Spain's Prince of Asturias Concord Award among others.
![Concha Velasco Concha Velasco](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/concha-velasco-99734-1.jpg)
Spanish actor and TV presenter Concha Velasco initially trained in dance and performed in a revue with Celia Gámez. She later gained fame with films such as Tormento and was critically praised for her performance as Teresa of Ávila in the mini-series Teresa de Jesús.
![Sofia Ellar Sofia Ellar](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sofia-ellar-99718-1.jpg)
![Javier Pereira Javier Pereira](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/javier-pereira-1.jpg)
![Eva González Eva González](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/eva-gonzlez-99697-1.jpg)
![Juan Manuel Lillo Juan Manuel Lillo](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/juan-manuel-lillo-1.jpg)
![Álvaro Bautista Álvaro Bautista](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/lvaro-bautista-134499-1.jpg)
![Cecilia Gessa Cecilia Gessa](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/cecilia-gessa-1.jpg)
Cecilia Gessa is a Spanish actress, director, producer, and former pornographic actress. Gessa, who was born into an artistic family, received training in acting, dancing, and singing. Apart from being a film personality, Cecilia Gessa also directs and manages her own event management company named Gessas’ Events Company.