Sunset walk – La Alberca

image Sharing stories in Las Batuecas of the Sierra de Francia

Sunset Walks is an intercultural itinerant artistic event made at the sunset, consisting in an artistic walk in the natural environment, with the participation of local, international, migrant artists, local cultural ‘keepers’ who share their songs, dances and stories along the path they make. Moments of observation of the natural phenomena are intertwined with the artistic moments.

At the sunset of 23th April the beautiful eco-art activity Sunset Walk was held, where all the international group that was hosted in La Alberca for the first Eco-Art Residence “Ecology of Arts”, was guided through the city of La Alberca and into various important places until the top of a hill in the Las Batuecas of the Sierra de Francia. The tour was organized by the Foundation Alicia Alonso and the Municipality of La Alberca, with the presence of the Mayor of La Alberca, together with the residents of the community of the city, local artists, journalists, historians that were very open to share stories about the area, important historical facts of the city, about the religion, the traditions, the gastronomy and the ordinary life of the people. During the walk around the city, some residents of the area spontaneously shared with the artists some songs about the wedding traditions of La Alberca and they were pleased to communicate secrets and details about life in the village. The activity ended with an uphill path, when the participants reached the top of the hill and some local artists (singers, actors) shared some poems and myths, fairytales for the mythical place of Las Batuecas, that have inspired many important artists and dramaturgists such as Lope de Vega in his famous work “Las Batuecas del Duque de Alba”.