Juan Antonio Roche, professor of Sociology of Culture and Art University of Alicantegrew up in San Gabriel working and popular neighborhood Who was born in Alicante 1906 and in this 1925 Celebrating its first party. It was Roche screamer Detailed information has been compiled for the neighborhood’s latest celebrations and to show neighbors that: “Culture has been a core feature of the San Gabriel neighborhood since the 1920s. “of the last century”. Two films were shot in Palmeral, Sorolla was painted in its shadow, and since the 50s this center of Alicante has been concentrated three music orchestras, two theater groups And two cinemas. Today neighbors claim more protection for the park and Serra del Porquet Deposit Paleontological research suggested by the sociologist publicIn addition to providing Cultural Center To a neighborhood where artists love painters Daniel Escolano or translators Cristina Fenollar and Aaron Cobosamong others.
“San Gabriel is a modest neighborhood that grew up in the middle of three factories (fertilizer, metal fabrication and aluminum), but there are many examples of this. cultural activity It was developed there thanks to family commitment with sensitivity and They incorporated the culture to new generations. We tend to forget that culture is something for the rich or that it is produced only in the center of cities. surroundings or neighborhoodsand that’s very important,” says Roche, who remembers that in the middle of the last century, San Gabriel had two classical music orchestras – at Racing Club San Gabriel José Alcarazand formation Antonio Guijarro– and a dance group, two theater groups and two movie projection centersBahía and Salones Babel.
neighborhood created several generations of artists and musicians. Actor in theater such as Cristina Fenollar (2020 Narcís Award and 2022 Estruch Award) or musicals such as Aarón Cobos god magic anyone A Chorus Line; There are names like circus Miguel Manzano, Camila Manzano or David Consuegra. Featured in classical music Mª José RocamoraSinger of Orfeó Valencià Navarro Reverter; Laura Pastor, Violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra of Barcelona and Catalonia and the Community Orchestra of Valencia; cellist Pedro Bonilla From ADDA Simfònica; violin professor Vicente AntonFrom OFUA; pianist Joseph Fructuoso or drummer and founder of the band Mediterráneo Alfonso Linares. In art, the surrealism of Daniel Escolano, whose collection is in the MUA and who died a year ago, stands out. Angel Baeza anyone Francisco SempereFeaturing several paintings by Palmeral from the 1940s.
Formerly known as this park Carmen’s Garden“Scenes from at least two films were shot: Cascorro’s heroby Emilio Bautista 1929Simulating a landscape of Cuba and The cursed island of Molokaiby Luis Lucia 1959“, indicates Roche and Sorolla painted most of his works Elche’s palm grove “In the palm grove of San Gabriel because the owners are friends of the Valencian painter.”
“Today Alicante’s oldest parkpart of the city’s historical heritage and residents want the Generalitat Valenciana to declare it monumental tree complex“says the UA professor, adding that the neighborhood association has also called for the declaration of Serra del Porquet Municipal natural area. buried there Deposit More paleontologically one hundred ichthyofossil footprints Five-million-year-old remains of mammals, birds and fish suggested by Roche public It can be visited through an interpretation centre.
He also claims A street for Daniel Escolanoa plaque in his own house and in the house of maestro Alcaraz, and the creation of a cultural center and library in order to revitalize the cultural dynamism of the neighborhood.