a Visit to the L'Alcora Town (Spain)

A VISIT TO THE L'ALCORA TOWN (Spain)

Having been invited to participate as a jury member at the International Ceramics " CICA 2015" , to the city of L’Alcora, I took the opportunity to visit this Spanish town. For years I had dreamed of knowing more about this place so I went on my own on a days trip .

The view of a large industrial production centre for the Ceramic tiles can be seen from the hills before reaching the town itself. All establishments of the most important Spanish producers are located here . This industrial area, the main subject of the whole view seems to take siege of L'Alcora which is situated on a hill.

Along the drive that takes you to the inhabited town is the artificial lake of the Queen Maria Cristina which is so full of water in this period that the tips the many willows that grow along the banks submerge in it.

In recent years whenever I visit a city or a town, I make it a point to start from the market or better still the gardens surrounding the urban centres . Surprisingly gardens in L'Alcora are located right at the foot of the city where steps take the owners directly to their gardens which are especially lush in the month of May. I hope that young people want to continue their parents’ passion because these gardens give the entire town an breath of life and wonderful fertility .

The imprint of ceramic art and contamination with industrial production can be seen even here. In fact in many parts, remains of tile or tiles have been used to create whole steps, water locks or containment walls.

Then going up the hill slope and looking at the ground in the lane, I saw many remains of tiles and after having carefully watched I realized that these tiles tell the passage of time and styles from the 50s until the 80s . Probably dumping of waste materials was prohibited, so that exposure remains cover only this period.

Coming out of the gardens I came across a path that is in some cases carved into the rock of the hill. The rock is made of a conglomerate of rocks or better still alluvial stones that have been welded together over the centuries by silica present in the soil.

The more you enter the town, the more you can continue with the surprises under balconies completely covered with decorated tiles. Indeed, it was the first time that I saw this artistic focus even there , where in theory it was not necessary , but art is like nature , intrusive !

I continued my walk around the city discovering craft shops that still produce ceramic decorations that have made L'Alcora famous over the centuries . It’s a story very similar to that of Nove and Bassano! I invite you to go through various websites , mainly www.museulalcora.es , but most of all I invite you to visit in person the Ceramics Museum of Alcora that has a collection of masterpieces belonging to four centuries of history . Take a few days for the hinterland and the sea located just a few km away. Innate hospitality and happiness of this country will certainly give you immense joy and make you feel at home.

Danilo Rigon

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