Famous visitors
Unamuno and Jacques Chevalier at the Batuecas Monastery.
Miguel de Unamuno
On his visits to this village, Miguel de Unamuno took note of its unique language and customs, such as the chant of the moza de Ánimas. He wrote several works and articles inspired by La Alberca, and once famously declared: “From Batuecas to La Alberca! Now that’s a village. What a village!”
Novios salmantinos (Bride and Groom from Salamanca), a painting by Joaquín Sorolla that showcases the traditional regional attire of La Alberca.
Joaquín Sorolla
The painter Joaquín Sorolla spent several days in La Alberca sketching and painting, capturing the town’s traditional costumes in his magnificent canvas titled Castilla, la fiesta del pan (Castilla: The Festival of Bread).
Sorolla once said that “La Alberca is one village in Spain that remains untouched by modern day Spain’s anti-artistic influences.”
Maurice Legendre (wearing a hat), beside the village ossuary.
Maurice Legendre
Legendre, the co-founder and director of the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid, spent long periods of time in La Alberca and became one of its most passionate ambassadors. Named an honorary resident of the village, there is a bust commemorating him on Calle Los Praos, where he once lived.
It was thanks to Legendre that the famous dancer, Elvira Lucena, came to La Alberca to study ancient regional dances and acquired a traje de vistas (elaborately adorned ceremonial outfit).
Florencio Maíllo’s exhibition on Lorca in La Alberca.
Lorca
Federico García Lorca visited La Alberca, accompanied by prominent figures from cinema and theatre, to prepare the historical drama, Peribáñez y el Comendador de Ocaña (Peribáñez and the Commander of Ocaña). They came across the traje de vistas while researching local traditions. Enchanted by its beauty, they decided it would be perfect for the character of Casilda. It had a profound impression on Lorca, who called these garments “living expressions of the people.”
Ofrenda en La Alberca (Offertory in La Alberca). Vidal González Arenal.
Other Painters
In addition to Joaquín Sorolla, many other painters visited La Alberca.
including notable names such as Valverde, Kurt Leyde, Bourdil, Agustín Segura, Rodríguez-Acosta, Molina Núñez, Pastor Calpena, Álvarez del Manzano, González Ubierna, José Guerrero, González Arenal, Ismael Blat, Amadeo Roca, Vázquez Díaz, and Antonio Maura, who once served as Spain’s Prime Minister.
La Alberca also welcomed students from art schools like the School of Arts and Crafts of Salamanca and the School of Ceramics in Madrid, the latter directed by Francisco and Jacinto Alcántara.