Rafael Altamira, born in Alicante in 1866 and who later lived until 1951 in Mexico, is remembered for insisting that his work abroad—across America and Europe—remained inseparable from his origin and responsibilities to Alicante. In 1934, during a ceremony at Alicante Town Hall, he received the city’s Gold Medal in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the country he served and the ties that bound him to his homeland. He stood as a representative not just of a nation, but of the city he cherished above all others, and his words that day echoed the deep connection between his global experience and his local roots. This anecdote anchors an enduring chapter in the local historical narrative, a chapter crafted by the life and work of a jurist, educator, and advocate whose career began in Alicante and extended far beyond its shores.
Ignacio Ramos Altamira, a great-grandson of the same thinker and educator, continued to illuminate Alicante through a series of articles on the city and its vibrant festivities. Working as a lawyer who would eventually be associated with international courts such as The Hague, Ramos Altamira authored pieces that appeared in the publications of the time and helped broaden the city’s cultural footprint. His editorial efforts, carried out with support from the University of Alicante and the City Council, produced collaborative writings about Alicante that reached a broader audience and contributed to the city’s intellectual life. His work is a bridge between local lore and the wider world of legal scholarship and journalism.
Altamira’s writings offer a panoramic view of Alicante, its ceremonies, and the role of public celebration in shaping community identity. His Gold Medal ceremony and his reflections on and after his American sojourn reveal a writer who celebrated Alicante’s beauty and traditions while also acknowledging the larger currents of his era. He saw the city within a global fabric, a thread that connected Levantine tales published in 1895 with later volumes like Fantasies and Memories dated 1910. The same voice that praised local splendor also told stories that resonated far beyond the coast of the Valencian Community, inviting readers to see the city through a wider lens.
Another notable contribution is the work on popular art and dances, featured in the journal Apuntes in 1896. The publication included visual illustrations by Vicente Banuls, and Altamira’s own writing on these topics culminated in a 1934 piece that reflected both cultural pride and an emerging civic consciousness. The collected materials culminated in a volume that underscored the importance of public festivities and the cultural institutions surrounding them, including a proposed museum center that would house the city’s festival heritage.
Altamira’s close association with the Hogueras—Alicante’s famous fires festival—was especially pronounced during the 1930s. He contributed multiple articles on the subject, and seven of those writings were gathered in a single volume. The festival’s figurehead role in city life earned him the label of Foguerer Mayor in 1934, and his commentary often emphasized inclusion and shared purpose. One historical note from his era records that the festival should serve the community without entrenching divisions, advocating for cooperative action that would advance everyone’s interests and reinforce civic unity.
Among the illustrations connected to his work, Banuls’s drawings enriched Rafael Altamira’s articles, helping to bring the city’s narrative to life through visual art that complemented the prose. These images captured the spirit of the time and provided a visual counterpart to the scholarship that celebrated Alicante’s traditions.
Your friend Gabriel Miró
The volume closes with an afterword drawn from a Madrid periodical, written by Gabriel Miró, a cherished friend of the Alicante lawyer upon his return from America. Miró extolled Altamira as a guardian of knowledge and love, describing him as a man whose generous wisdom and gentle kindness left a lasting impression. This affectionate assessment reflects the personal bonds that anchored Altamira’s public achievements and his scholarly life.
Beyond personal reminiscence, Ignacio Ramos emphasized that the most revealing texts were not always the most formal. He highlighted a preference for a more direct, accessible voice in the works, describing a style that was less encumbered by academic formalities yet rich in insight and humanity.
A tangible part of Altamira’s legacy rests at the UA Headquarters, where his work and memory remain a touchstone for researchers and students alike. Although he traveled to Alicante more infrequently after retirement, he remained deeply connected to the land and its people. His writings and public statements continued to reference Alicante, and there was a sense that when his great-grandfather’s funeral was held abroad, it would be a moment for the city to receive him with due honors and acknowledgment. The enduring message was clear: a love for the region can endure across distance and time.
In Altamira’s own reflections, Terreta—the land—deserved a vitality that could sustain life and community beyond fleeting sentiment. He urged a positive, life-affirming appreciation that avoided narrowing love to mere nostalgia or vague memory. This sentiment, echoed in his later articles, remains a call to cherish local culture while engaging with the broader currents of the modern world.