Marina Alta & Gandia - About Book

PAPERBACK

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Marina Alta region is a diverse terrain within the province of Alicante. Its neighbour, Gandia, is a city and a municipality. Both are located within the Valencian Community on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast. 

As well as stunning landscape this area is full of historical and artistic landmarks that tell you much about the heritage and culture of Spain itself. This book reveals where these places are to be found and details the wealth of treasures you will discover on this journey. 

If you are looking for the real Spain that is not usually found on the standard tourist trail, then this book is where to begin. 

Included is a detailed guided tour of the Ducal Palace of Gandia, which from the 14th century, was the residence of the Royal Dukes of Gandía, and from 1485, the Borja family. It was the birthplace of Saint Francis Borja. It is an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1964. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karla Ingleton Darocas is Canadian married to a Spaniard and based in Benitachell on Spain's Costa Blanca. She is an educator with a passion to inspire and facilitate a lust to learn. Her love of Spanish art, architecture, and history is infectious, and she attracts art lovers to her lectures. 

Other Information & Resource by Author 

SpainLifestyle.com and KarlaDarocas.com.

TABLE‌ ‌OF‌ ‌CONTENTS‌ 

• Teulada’s Fortified Baroque Hermitage Of San Vicente Ferrer 
• The Beautiful Baroque Parish Churches Of The Marina Alta * Benimaurell * Campell * Beniarbeig * Parcent * Alcalalí 
• The Royal Marsh Is Gandía’s Watery Paradise 
• Discover Famous 17th Century Polychrome Busts In Gandía 
• A Detailed Guide To Gandía’s Pretty & Important Palace

REVIEWS

"I bought this book about the Marina Alta Region because I wanted to know more about Gandia. I found out so much info, in detail, about things I know I would have missed if I just visited without having this book by my side. The book also has info about Teulada, Beniarbeig, Parcent and Alcalali, etc, but I was particularly interested in Gandia. - Sarah Farrell

Saint Lucia: Early Christian Martyr or Valencian Fashion Model?

The Fine Arts Museum of Valencia is where you can find this gorgeous rendition of one of the most interesting virgin saints of the biblical world.

However, this Lucía de Siracusa is a Valencian Renaissance gem, displaying all of her devotion in a marvelously embroidered silk cloak.

Article by Karla Darocas (KarlaDarocas.com)

Known also as St. Lucia, she was a young Christian martyr (283-304), who is revered as a saint by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In Spain, she is celebrated by her devotees with a festival on December 13, the longest night of the year, according to the first Julian calendar. 

This image most likely follows the medieval legend about Lucia. When she refused to marry, she was persecuted by Pascasio, a proconsul to the Roman magistrate. He ordered that she be raped to get rid of her holy devotion to God and that her beautiful eyes be gouged out. But luckily, God gifted her with new eyes, even more beautiful than those she had before.

IMPRESSIVE SAN MIGUEL STANDS PROUD AT FINE ARTS MUSEUM OF VALENCIA

The Valencia Fine Arts Museum contains some of the most important paintings in Spanish history. As soon as you walk into the main gallery, a monumental painting of San Miguel Arcángel takes your breath away.

This work of art has been in the museum's collections for a long time and has been seen by many generations of Valencians and foreigners. Because of its size, it is very compelling and captures your attention immediately. 

SOROLLA'S GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS FACING THE LIGHT OF NATURE

"When all the artists painted in the studios, he painted outdoors; when a filtered and conventional light, with the pallor of consumption, he brutally grasped the rays of the sun on the tips of his brushes and fixed them on his canvases."

- Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

Sorolla's intimate friend and inspiration, Vicente Blasco, expressed his opinion on the work of Sorolla in a brief extract from a newspaper that was announcing Sorolla's death. Blasco believed that his friend was one of the brave ones because Sorolla painting outside, as often as the weather would permit. It was the hardest route to take, considering that studio painting was an environment where all elements, especially the light source, could be controlled. 

Even though open air painting was popular in Sorolla's era, he really didn't become fully addicted until after the turn of the century. 

Why was painting outside so exciting and risky for Sorolla?  But also, why was light so important in general terms?

Article by Karla Darocas, Hons. B.A. (KarlaDarocas.com)

Sorolla: INTO THE LIGHT of Impressionism & Luminism

DATE: TBA

TIME: 17:00 H - Madrid Time

WHERE: Zoom 

FEE: 10 euros
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