BENALÚA STATION (MURCIA STATION) - PROTECTING THE PAST FOR TODAY

Connecting cities and villages in early days now the station is best known as "Casa Mediterráneo " - used for social events for locals and tourists. Even though Benalúa Station or also called Murcia Station is no longer used for traveling purposes it still has a significant historical and cultural value for Alicante and its citizens. 


History

Benalúa Station 1888
https://www.archdaily.com
You may ask what makes this station so special and different from other abandoned stations in Spain? Just imagen a city in XIX century where electricity is a luxury, there is no asphalt so people are traveling in horse-drawn carriages but even then - city is in its highest growth in which port is  one of the greatest commercial traffic of the Spanish Mediterranean. In order to ease the transportation of merchandise and passengers the constructions of a Railway Station connecting two very important cities; Alicante and Murcia begins. This connection was an influx on trading, it increased economy and tourism. With developing railway system Alicante region was now easily accessible for citizens from Central Spain as well. 

 The first train to arrive to the station was on 4th of January, 1858, from Madrid. It took 10 years to build a railway to connect Alicante with the capital of Spain. Constructions were carried out by Compania de los Ferrocarriles de Madrid a Zaragoza y Alicante (company which could be compared to RENFE today). Station opened and was in service for passengers on 1st of March, 1858, but the official opening was on May  25th, 1858 with the arrival of Queen Isabella II. 

 However later in 20th century, due to high volume of merchandise it became more and more comfortable to use the roads to reach the western. And after a while passengers of Alicante - Murcia route were directed to Madrid station which is now the central station of Alicante. 

Tourists

We visited Benalua Station few weeks ago.
Building is easily accessible, located just beside the bus station of Alicante, 15 min walk from La Rambla Mendez Núñez (https://www.google.es/maps). Just make sure you will get there before 15.00 o clock other wise you will only be able to get a peek through the closed gates. 

 Photo by:  Maria Celma



Cultural Value

This historical building has not only kept its historical value but also gained cultural and
Benalua Station 2016,
https://www.archdaily.com
 social value when in 2009 an institution "ADIF" re-constructed  the building into a diplomatic institution and named it "Casa del Mediterraneo". "ADIF`s" project aims to promote the culture and return the importance to the building it once had. But unfortunately due to lack of budget the remake of the  station has been temporary stopped. Even though re-constructions aren't finished to visit this building means to visit a symbol of two different eras. A mandatory stop if you visit Alicante. 
Bibliography

 - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicante_railway_station
- Archdaily. 
https://www.archdaily.com
-  Casameditaraneo 
http://www.manuelocana.
- Dallen J. Timothy (2011), Cultural Heritage And Tourism, An introduction

               

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