A date with the "father" of Hispanism: Calle Rafael Altamira
Your next stop is just a few metres from one of the most emblematic spots in the city, the exact place where Alicante and the Mediterranean meet at the same height; we are talking about the street in honour of the Alicante native Rafael Altamira, also known as “The Father of Hispanism”.
Nowadays, we walk around the city at a frenetic pace without ever taking our eyes off the screen of our mobile phones. We move on autopilot until we reach our destination without wondering who or what might have been there 10 minutes before or even being aware of why a particular street is called that way. We are travellers of the 21st century, tourists in our own city that always has a corner or an anecdote to surprise us with. Without a doubt, the postcard that Alicante returns today is very different from that of 150 years ago when Altamira was born.
Do you want to know more about this place?
We’ll make it easy for you. Go to your nearest stop and hop on one of the following buses:
Line 2: Juan Bautista La Fora 2
Line 5: Rambla Méndez Núñez 4-6
Line 8: Explanada España
Line 10: Rambla Méndez Núñez 4-6
Line 13: Rambla Méndez Núñez 4-6
Line 22: Juan Bautista La Fora 2
Rafael Altamira
You can use the bus ride to observe the city, to wonder where the next story of this, your next stop, might be hidden. Once you reach your destination, it will be time to take your eyes off the screen of your smartphone and look up: arched passages, buildings with almost a century of history, the City Hall… the “heart” of Alicante welcomes you on Rafael Altamira Street.
Who is Altamira? Possibly one of the most important figures in the city throughout its history: humanist, historian, teacher, jurist, literary critic, writer and twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Remembering Rafael Altamira is evoking Alicantes pride, morality, culture, research, teaching, the principles of Law… it is to travel, crossing the Atlantic to Central America. It is talking about the history of Spain, of Mexico and, above all, it is talking about Hispanicism, for a reason he is known as one of its fathers! If all this seems curious to you, pay attention, the house where he was born is less than five minutes from where you are right now. Let’s go on a trip!
From Rafael Altamira to Cienfuegos Street
Adéntrate en el interior del Casco Antiguo atravesando uno de los pasajes que encontrarás, mientras lo haces piensa en que, quizás, el mismo Altamira pasó por ese lugar muchos años antes que tú ahora. Observa la arquitectura de los edificios más antiguos, molduras, casas de grandes ventanales de madera y cristal a través de los que se pueden ver techos altos con vigas de madera con más historia que cualquiera de los paseantes que puedas encontrar alrededor.
Enter the Old Town through one of the passages you will find, while you do so think that, perhaps, Altamira himself passed through that place many years before you now. Observe the architecture of the oldest buildings, moldings, houses with large wooden and glass windows through which you can see high ceilings with wooden beams with more history than any of the walkers you may find around.
Head behind the Town Hall, to the Santísima Faz Square, where terraces, restaurants and palm trees surround the main attraction of this place, a fountain with a relief of the Holy Face.
Keep walking in the opposite direction to the Town Hall, heading towards the corner where our path will meet Las Monjas Street. Right on this corner there is a very unique building built in 1912, now converted into a charming hotel. What better way to travel back to the last century? No, we are not going to suggest that you stay overnight, although you could…but if you want to enjoy an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city with views of the Santa Bárbara Castle, be sure to visit the terrace of this hotel. It is a stop that will be worth it!
There are only 200 metres left to reach your destination, Cienfuegos Street, number 2, the place where Rafael Altamira was born more than 150 years ago. On the façade of the new building you will find a plaque commemorating the birth and career of Altamira, an Alicante native in love with his place of origin. Shortly before he died, during his exile in Mexico, he declared: “The only thing that keeps me alive in this painful exile is remembering my ‘terreta’, its smells, light and colour”, three characteristics of the city that not even a 21st century tourist can ignore.