Wednesday 27 September 2017

A fascist monument still standing on the Costa Blanca

A fascist monument on the Costa Blanca. Been wanting to capture this monstrosity for a while now. So after yomping a couple of kilometers back along a motorway with no pavement in over 30 degrees heat I finally find the location between the airport and Alicante. It was built by Franco in the early forties to commemorate 50 fascists from the Vega Baja who were taken out on the very spot by Republican troops as they headed towards Alicante with a plan to free Falangist leader Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera who was being held in the town. There's no signage other than the recent fash graffiti- For the Martyrs of Spain - but the ugly nazi brutalism is blatant. Why it's still standing, and well maintained, is beyond me.

5 comments:

  1. Great question, Geoff!

    The memorial was originally located where the aluminum factory in the "Agua Amarga area is but was constructed here when the factory was built. In 2009 the controversial right wing mayor Sonia Castedo approved its restoration.

    http://alicanteconfidencial.blogspot.com/2009/04/sonia-castedo-autoriza-la-restauracion.html
    The original facist and falagist language was removed and replaced.
    It is a striking thing to see, let's just put it that way.

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  2. I am perplexed as to where exactly this is? Could you let me know please. I have a fair bit of interest in the civil war on the Costa Blanca and wouldnt mind seeing this please.

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  3. As you are heading toward Urbanova from Alicante, on N-332, a slight bit before you get to the split with N-340, at the base of what was the Ciudad de la Luz, if you look up, off to the right you will see the 5 columns. You can pull up on Calle AntoƱita Moreno and there are steps up. They made it into a little park area with a bench. The views down the coast are amazing. The Monument definitely has a third Reich aesthetic. The expensive reconstruction and attempt to soften the message is weird. And the defamation is telling.

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    1. Many thanks! I know exactly where it is now!

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