Total solar eclipse darkens northern Spain for first time in 27 years as millions gather

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Millions of spectators across Spain watched in awe as a rare total solar eclipse swept across the northern part of the country on Wednesday evening, plunging regions into darkness for nearly two minutes. The event, Western Europe’s first total solar eclipse in 27 years, drew crowds to rural viewing spots, with authorities deploying a massive police contingent to manage the influx of up to 6 million visitors in northern Spain and the Balearic Islands.
In Buitrago de Lozoya, north of Madrid, onlookers clapped and cheered as the sky dimmed just after 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT), with Baily’s beads—bright points of sunlight around the moon’s edge—visible for barely a minute. Economist Diego Fernandez, 32, described the gradual return of colors after totality as “impressive,” noting the reds and blues reappeared “just like at dawn and sunset.” Madrid resident Rafael Jiménez, 50, called the scene “science fiction,” adding, “It was an absurd scene; we even got soaked when the garden sprinklers kicked in.”
The eclipse’s path of totality crossed 13 of Spain’s autonomous communities, including the Balearic Islands, where the Mediterranean offered a rare vantage point. In southern Mallorca and northern Menorca, the phenomenon was visible almost perfectly, while clouds partially obscured the view in Ibiza. The event marked the first total eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912, with totality lasting up to 1 minute and 48 seconds in some areas.
Earlier, a break in the clouds in western Iceland allowed holidaymakers and locals a brief glimpse of the eclipse, though central Reykjavik remained overcast. Lawyer Eduarda Ortiz, 33, told Reuters the darkness in the capital felt like “a whole day just came at once,” prompting reflection on “the shortness of life.”
Among the spectators was Brian May, former guitarist of Queen, who traveled to an observatory in Spain’s Teruel province and documented the experience on Instagram. “Here we go, the sun is disappearing. It’s amazing,” he said as the eclipse peaked, followed by cheers from bystanders.
The celestial event also drew international attention, with specialized cameras capturing the spectacle from multiple European locations. NASA and the European Space Agency provided live coverage, while cruise ships, quiet towns, and festivals hosted viewing parties across the continent. In Estonia, a partial eclipse peaked at 8:53 p.m. local time, with the moon covering over 80% of the sun’s disk in Tallinn.
The eclipse followed a path that began in Russia’s remote Arctic north before arcing over Greenland, Iceland, and parts of western Europe. The next total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2027, with the path of totality crossing southern Andalusia, Morocco, and other parts of North Africa.
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