King Alfonso XIII

Various legends about the origins of the tapas have been attributed to various monarchs. An accepted one places the origins of the tapas tradition in Andalusia, where drinks would be covered with a piece of cheese or sausage to protect them from dust or flies during the hot summer weather. King Alfonso XIII is at the heart of this legend. It is said that he was drinking sherry at an inn when a waiter saw some sand swirling up off the ground, so he placed a slice of sausage over the king's glass, which he later ate. Several taverns in Cádiz and Seville have claimed to be the setting for these events.