Tag Archives: history

When the mob came for the priest

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It was the cat that awoke me. I started from my wicker seat, the one that my parents had bought me when I left the seminary. I was startled awake from my siesta, and my prayer book fell from my lap, and my glasses with it. I blinked at the broken spectacles. I scrabbled at the frames in fury, and only managed to cut my hand on the thick, broken glass. The welling blood on Continue reading When the mob came for the priest→

Fury over restoration vandalism at Almería’s historic train station

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A planned restoration of Almería’s train station has caused outrage after it was noticed that historic elements have been cemented over A long awaited restoration of Almería’s historic train station has caused much controversy after it was noticed that elements of the façade have been crudely cemented over. The historic building saw scaffolding go up this week as the first phase of a much needed restoration project started. Works carried out by building company Jarquil Continue reading Fury over restoration vandalism at Almería’s historic train station→

Junta denies robberies at historic sites

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The Junta de Andalucia has denied that El Argar, a bronze age village outside Antas from an ancient civilisation, is being “routinely despoiled” by treasure hunters. Furthermore, the lack of full protection and cultural activities at the areas is the fault of the local authorities, according to a statement from the minister for culture. MP Carmen Crespo (PP) made the accusation recently during a debate on historic protection in the regional parliament. Minister Alfredo Valdivia Continue reading Junta denies robberies at historic sites→

Did you know that Mojácar had a “Jewish quarter”?

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Well, according to the tourism department it does. The bland and innocuous turismo de mojácar facebook page dedicates itself not to actually promoting the municipality, or advertising forthcoming events that may be of interest, but to publishing a never ending series of blurred and skewed holiday snaps sent in from the camera phones of locals, usually captioned with a happy good morning!!  OK, sometimes they publish a nice one, but you always get the feeling it’s by Continue reading Did you know that Mojácar had a “Jewish quarter”?→

The beautiful Casa Ferrera building is up for sale

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One of Almería’s most beautiful buildings, the Casa Ferrera, is up for sale at 3.5 million euros. It’s the stunning building which borders one edge of the Nicolás Salmerón park. The Casa Ferrera was built in 1900 as an over-the-top iron warehouse, and was converted in 1913 by Cartagenian businessman Emilio Ferrera López-Mesas, who reopened it as Almería’s first department store. Emilio arrived in Almería as a fresh faced 18 year old youngster in 1902, Continue reading The beautiful Casa Ferrera building is up for sale→

OK, Franco was a dictator admits Spanish Academy of History

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The Spanish Academy of History has bowed to public pressure and will amend the official biography of Francisco Franco to make it clear he was a dictator. The current entry was written by Professor Luis Suárez, who specialises in medieval history – and happens to be a member of the Francisco Franco Foundation, a charitable organisation setup by the dictators heirs to “guard his historic memory”. Really. Tax breaks and everything. I’ve written before on Continue reading OK, Franco was a dictator admits Spanish Academy of History→

Turre – a history has been published

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My latest book on the history of the province: Turre – a history is now available in paperback or Kindle format from Amazon! Or if you want, you can get it from Amazon.es, the Spanish site. Turre – a history recounts the last 500 years of history of the Levante of Almeria through the story of the small town called Turre. Starting with the conquest of the province by the Spanish Catholic Kings from the Continue reading Turre – a history has been published→

Almería surrender documents found and restored by local paper

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The original articles of surrender by the Moorish residents of Almería to the Christian armies in the 15th century have been found (they were lost? Stuck in a box somewhere it seems) by Ideal newspaper and restored by them. They are now on display until after Christmas at the Museo Arqueológico Provincial. The Capitulaciones as they are known, were negotiated between the Islamic ruler of the city of Almería and the Catholic Kings Isabel & Continue reading Almería surrender documents found and restored by local paper→

The abandoned warehouse outside Garrucha

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We’ve all seen the old abandoned warehouse, stuck in the middle of a flat field outside Garrucha as we enter from the Los Gallardos road. Many of us will have wondered why? wherefore? and how? as we speed past this old, well built yet abandoned and now falling apart sign to a past dream. This… is the dream that was.