Vicente Espinel

Born in Ronda in 1550, Vicente Espinel became one of the notable literary and musical voices of Spain’s Siglo de Oro. He studied at the University of Salamanca and built a varied life as a poet, novelist, priest, and musician.

Espinel is most often linked with the décima, a ten-line stanza that later became widely known in Spanish as the espinela in his honor. His work as a writer and performer gave him a lasting place in Spanish cultural history, where he is remembered not only for poetry but also for his broader influence on literary and musical life.

He died in 1624, leaving behind a reputation that endured well beyond his own era. For listeners today, he offers a glimpse into the rich, inventive world of early modern Spanish literature.