Located in the autonomous community of Cantabria, about 600 meters above sea level, Garabandal is about 35 miles (55 km) from the Cantabrian capital, Santander, and roughly 250 miles (400 km) from the Spanish capital, Madrid.

From 1961 to 1965, four young schoolgirls – Mari Loli Mazón, Jacinta Gonzalez, Mari Cruz Gonzalez and Conchita Gonzalez – said they had received several apparitions and messages from Saint Michael the Archangel and the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Today, the town is a place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics and members of other faiths.

Catholics have since been reminded by the Roman Hierarchy that the Garabandal apparitions are in no way sanctioned or approved by the Church.

Because of the town's remote location and lack of easy accessibility, it has remained largely the same as it was in 1961.