Mi Querida Torrevieja, Centenario D. Juan Aparicio Lopez

Sala de Exposiciones -Vista Alegre- 28th April -23rd May

If, like me, you enjoy exploring towns and cities, just wandering around, looking and listening, and trying to find patterns and trying to understand what you see, then Torrevieja is fertile ground. The town – note, the town, it became a city much later – grew up, in its present grid-iron fashion, following the devastating earthquake of 1856. The resulting conurbation is not architecturally or aesthetically noteworthy, it is not a Granada, a Toledo, an Avila, it’s not old and it’s not fine and it’s not anywhere publicized as something to interest the visitor. But for me that “old” part, the original post 1856 part is totally fascinating, charming and unlike many better known towns and cities is not something to be seen and to be kept in a period time warp, but is simply itself.

It is also interesting for the like minded loafer in Torrevieja to observe the rich diversity of the street names which grace the post 1856 street map. I’m sure you will know them - Diego Ramirez Pastor, Vicente Blasco Ibanez, San Policarpo, Ramon Gallud, Juan Mateo Garcia, Paseo Maritimo Juan Aparicio and so on. Who were all these good and worthy people? You might guess, incorrectly that they were all former local politicians, dignatories, alcaldes etc. But generally not so. One was a physically handicapped man who did sterling work helping the afflicted, where others feared to tread, following the last great cholera epidemic. Another was an eminent parish priest, another, a poet and writer and so on.

Finally, to the point, many of us will have strolled along the Paseo Maritimo Juan Aparicio, either visiting a café, restaurant or bar, listening to those lovely concerts at the open air sea front auditorium or simply promenading. So who was Juan Aparicio? Well if you are curious enough to want to find out, visit the photographic exhibition at Sala de Exposiciones, Vista Alegre. The exhibition, basically, uses abundant photographic material to illustrate the main stages of his life – his youth, his journalistic career and the final stage, his love affair with and adoption by Torrevieja.

To be brief Juan Aparicio was born in Guadix in 1906. He studied Law in Granada. He was an early contributor to Gimenez Caballero’s Literary Gazette. He went to the University of Madrid, studied Philology, and met his future wife Carmen Jalon Gomez. He was married in 1936 and later had 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. In 1946 he became editor of the daily, “Pueblo”. In 1951 he was named National Director General of the Press and in 1957 went to work for the Spanish Embassy in Rome. He later occupied academic posts and became a member of the Spanish Parliament. He died in Madrid in 1987. In his life he was accorded numerous honours, tributes and grand crosses.

The exhibition provides some good indications as to who and what he was. He was for instance a dedicated family man, a dedicated Francoist and Falangist (ultra Right Wing, neo-Fascist party of Spain), called “The Napoleon of the Press” but also said to be the protector of the persecuted and a man who “gave room to those on the Left”. Although it’s totally irrelevant, as a younger man he bore a strong resemblance to Benito Mussolini.

The exhibition not surprisingly left me with as many questions as answers. For instance, what were his true political feelings? What did he do during the Civil War? The major unavoidable question mark arising out of this exhibition is what was Juan Aparicio’s connection with Torrevieja. How did it begin? It clearly went back a long way. For instance he was the moving force behind the creation of the Festival de Habaneras de Torrevieja in 1955. But the connection is left in the air. Also, and again completely off the point, why did the Purisma go from the Inmaculada Concepcion to Barcelona in 1957?

For Torrevejenses and for would-be adoptive Torrevejenses this is an admirable insight into recent local history. Go and have a look. It finishes on 23rd May. Be quick!

Brian Heard 20/5/07

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg