History through photographs

VILLAJOYOSA now has a treasure trove of fascinating historical photographs taken by a local photographer between 1845 and 1937, during the civil war which accounts for a part of the collection. The Linares Ortiz is a jewel of Valencian heritage and a photographic chronical of a century in the town.

The Department of Historical Heritage and the University of Alicante have organised a first exhibition in the Municipal Public Library with a selection of more than 40 never­before­seen photos from the 30s to the 50s. The municipal archive and conservation department has already digitised 3,000 images with a high­resolution scanner, representing a mere 2 per cent of the total donated 11 months ago. The glass plates and negatives are carefully stored in neutral paper in nonacidic carboard boxes in a special temperature­controlled warehouse. However, conservation in digitisation is in high resolution, which does not deteriorate over time.

This marvellous find includes panoramic images of Villajoyosa, detailed reports of boats and their manufacture in the shipyards on the beach, and many other topics, as well as weddings, burials, theatre performances, parties and football matches.