Indalecio Zaballa

The Indalecio Zaballa Memorial in Cabezón de la Sal

Just beside the Conde de San Diego Municipal Library in Cabezón de la Sal, a small stone monolith honors Indalecio Zaballa, a Cantabrian folk troubadour better known by his stage name, Masio el de La Hayuela. The spot is called Rincón del Trovador — the Troubadour's Corner — and it is one of those quiet corners of town that hides a genuinely colorful slice of regional folklore.

Who was Indalecio Zaballa?

Born on 24 August 1909 in Mogro, a village in the municipality of Miengo, Cantabria, Indalecio Zaballa Cerra died in 1992 in La Hayuela, the hamlet that gave him his nickname. He never attended school as a child, spending his early years herding cattle in the Udías valley instead. Economic necessity pushed him through several trades: he worked in the mines until they closed in 1931, then turned to folk music, playing the drum alongside piper Maximiliano Echevarría at village festivals. He only picked up the flute later in life, taught by his own son.

How did he become the "Trovador Mayor de Cantabria"?

Despite being unable to read or write, Zaballa composed trovas — improvised verses recited or sung on the spot — covering subjects as varied as war, shepherds, village life, landscapes, festivals and local figures. The poet Jesús Cancio is credited with encouraging him to pursue this oral tradition seriously. Over time, Zaballa earned the title Trovador Mayor de Cantabria, the region's foremost troubadour, becoming a living reference for Cantabria's spoken-word poetic heritage. His life and work were later documented in books such as "La última trova" and "Carácter Montañés" (2001), as well as in regional film footage.

What is there to see?

Don't expect a grand statue: the memorial is a modest stone monolith set at the center of a small garden, tucked to the left of the municipal library building and next to the side façade of the parish church. Rincón del Trovador functions more as a resting spot than a monument in the traditional sense — a small green pocket in the middle of town where locals and visitors alike can pause and reflect on a man whose music and verse accompanied village celebrations for decades.

Frequently asked questions

Who is honored by the memorial in Cabezón de la Sal? Indalecio Zaballa Cerra, known as Masio el de La Hayuela — a Cantabrian folk troubadour (1909-1992) famous for composing improvised verses called trovas.

Where exactly is the memorial located? In a small garden to the left of the Conde de San Diego Municipal Library in Cabezón de la Sal, next to the side façade of the parish church.

Why is he called the Trovador Mayor de Cantabria? For a lifetime of improvised sung poetry about war, shepherds, villages and festivals, which made him the most recognized troubadour figure in the region.

Is this a major tourist attraction? No — it's a modest stone monolith, but it carries real cultural weight as a tribute to Cantabria's living oral folk tradition, and it's easy to find in the town center.