Julio, a Spaniard who spent 25 years in politics with the PP, began as a city councilor, then served as a deputy, led the Alicante Provincial Council, and most recently acted as a senator. Now 75, the internist looks back with quiet confidence and says, No problem now. A newly opened cultural association sits in the Alicante neighborhood of San Blas, a space created to explore the public events and the history of Alicante province under the Despalic banner, a name that blends De España with Alicante itself.
The association operates from a building spanning 240 square meters at Calle Radiofonista Raúl Álvarez Antón, a former supermarket acquired five years ago. The purchase price was 100,000 euros, financed by a loan that has since been paid off. After a period of renovation, gathering items, and rearranging spaces, Despalic is now registered as a cultural association. Its governing body includes Despalic, with Paco Sirvent as accountant, Pepa Llorca as secretary, and Pepe Trigueros as vice president, along with four other members.
“This is a project finished with the help of many people, but there is still work to do”, says De España. The center features a main hall for events, a library, and a storage area. The inventory is still being completed, but progress is steady. The library houses more than 6000 posts organized in 21-column blocks of books honoring colleagues and friends who have passed away, including Carlos Mazo n, former vice president of Diputación, and other notable figures such as Rafael Pastor, former ministers Jose Ramon Garcia Anton and Luisa Pastor, and journalist Tirso Marine. A growing collection includes family books and items from the 19th century, plus a substantial array of furniture and keepsakes from political life. Among the treasures are a piano and an old player piano, with an asking price of twelve thousand euros for repairs. Walls display framed photos, drawings, and plaques that reflect the province’s diverse activities, from sports to festivity calendars, bullfighting, and the Bonfires of Saint John Festival. The coat of arms of several towns is proudly showcased, and a documentary fund exists for consultation with a relevant audit.