Cities Cartagena and Alicante deepen their historic ties through a continuous cycle of cultural events honoring Alfonso X the Wise, marking the eighth centennial of his birth with reverent celebration and renewed partnership across regions.
The kickoff sessions unfolded in Alicante, gathering Cultural Councillors from both cities. David Martínez Noguera and Antonio Manresa visited the Alicante Municipal Archive to support the commemoration, showcasing the Book of Privileges of the city of Alicante attributed to Alfonso X the Wise. The display highlighted the building’s windows dating from the mid-13th century and the monarch’s documents, all shown in the presence of the deputy mayor, Mari Carmen Sánchez, underscoring a shared commitment to regional heritage.
As part of the program, visits to Santa Bárbara Castle in Alicante and the Castillo de la Concepción in Cartagena were organized. These activities form part of a nationwide effort by the Alfonsí cities to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Alfonso X El Sabio, whose relationship with Alicante remains historically significant; records show that on December 4, 1248, the town’s fortress was captured during a campaign led by his father, King of Castile III, a moment that continues to illuminate the region’s medieval history.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and with support from the Alicante Municipal Archive, Susana Llorens contributed to the remembrance year dedicated to Alfonso X the Wise, helping to coordinate scholarly and public outreach across institutions.
Visit to the Alicante Municipal Archive
INFORMATION
activities in the city
On December 1, a presentation will explain Gosalbes de Cunedo, a humanist rooted in Alicante whose work influenced the conquest of Europe. The event will take place at Santa Bárbara Castle in the Taberna Room at 18:00, followed by a Renaissance music recital in the cistern room performed by the Counterpoint ensemble, offering attendees a vivid sense of the era’s cultural vitality.
The 16th-century writer Gosalbes de Cunedo was a Renaissance Latin poet, physician, and participant in military expeditions. While he found success during his lifetime and left lasting local impressions into the 17th and 18th centuries, his memory faded in both academic and popular circles in Alicante. His works, all written in Latin, are richly cultured and deserve wider readership. For years, a professor of Latin Philology at the University of Alicante, Antonio Biosca, has been involved in editing and translating his writings to restore recognition of his contributions.
The exhibition, self-produced and coordinated by the Municipal Integrative Heritage Department, features thirteen panels authored by Biosca and illustrated to accompany the texts. The panels are presented in both Spanish and Valencian, and after each panel a brief fragment from Gosalbes’ writings relates to the topic addressed in that panel, inviting visitors to connect medieval thought with contemporary perspectives.
The display includes a variety of objects such as 16th-century books and manuscripts from the collection of the exhibition curator, alongside audio-visual elements and a detailed miniature model of the ship San Mateo, which Gosalbes sailed on during the period of King Felipe II’s Invincible Armada, a reminder of the maritime reach of that historical era.
Music in the time of Alfonso X El Sabio
The following day, December 2, Capella de Ministrers, directed by Carles Magraner, presents a program titled Music in the Time of Alfonso X El Sabio at 18:00 in the Union Headquarters hall of the fort. The concert delves into musical works and practices from the era of this medieval monarch, offering audiences an immersive glimpse into courtly life and the rich musical culture of the time.
Alfonsí Cities Commission
Alicante belongs to the Alfonsí Cities Commission, a regional network created to celebrate the life, culture, and reign of Alfonso X El Sabio on the eighth centenary of his birth. The commission receives support from the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) as part of its 40th anniversary activities. In total, 57 municipalities from 23 provinces participate in this year’s commemorations and future events, recognizing the places where Alfonso X traveled and left a lasting cultural, political, and social legacy across the region.