If you find yourself in Santa Pola and history is your thing, the newly restored Villa Adelaida is worth a look.
Home to the Hans-Maribel-Shami Centre for Arts, Sciences and Literature, the building has finally opened its doors to the public.
Guided tours last an hour and run Tuesday to Saturday at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 17:30 and 18:30, plus Sunday mornings at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00.
Bookings can be made by phone or WhatsApp on (+34) 678 358 237. The line is only active during visiting hours.
A century of history
Built in 1910, Villa Adelaida is one of Santa Pola’s most recognisable buildings, mixing modernist and Indiano influences. In 2012, owner Maribel López Pérez-Ojeda handed it over to the council, with the idea of turning it into a centre to support young talent in art, science and literature.
The council took on a full renovation last year, with works costing almost half a million euros.
Maribel: A Life Without Borders
Maribel (1931–2015) was born in Santa Pola but spent much of her career in California. At the University of Berkeley, she gained degrees in Arts, Philosophy and Literature, earned a doctorate, and taught Spanish and Romance languages for four decades.
In her later years, she donated Villa Adelaida to her hometown, determined it should nurture new generations of thinkers and creators. Shortly before her death, her story was told in Living Without Borders, a book by Rafael Pla Grau, Antoni Mas i Miralles and Shami Mendiratta.
