Alicante has almost a hundred listed air-raid shelters. Two of them have been completely restored and can be used for filming: located in Seneca Square and the Doctor Balmis Square, they bear witness to Alicante’s city experience of the Spanish Civil War. Today, Alicante is among Europe’s most significant cities regarding this type of construction.
Balmis Square Air-raid shelter This shelter is small. It was built after Alicante citizens asked the consistory to build private shelters near their homes. These citizens were usually members of the bourgeoisie who disposed of some economic power and who felt more secure having the shelters nearby. The shelter doors are in fact similar to submarine doors to avoid toxic gas contamination, which illustrates the design’s expertise.
Seneca Square Air-raid shelter This major air-raid shelter is much larger and can hold up to 1,200 people. It is fitted with audio equipment allowing to hear and feel the sensations of people who took refuge during the bombings.
Hall Seneca Patronato Alicante Convention Bureau Alicante Film Office
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Hall Seneca Patronato Alicante Convention Bureau Alicante congresos-2000PX 9
Alicante’s former bus station is now called Seneca Hall. It has been turned into a singular and multifunctional location with a minimalist design, and 550 m2 of completely open space and high ceilings.
Inside, one can admire the murals painted in 1949 by the Alicante artist Gastón Castelló. This space currently hosts all kinds of events and provides all the necessary facilities to film comfortably.
The building is situated on the square of the same name which also houses a Civil War air-raid shelter.
The Casa del Mediterráneo has its official headquarters in Alicante’s Old Benalua Station, an iconic and protected building that was inaugurated in 1887 as a railway station. It was an emblem of the Alicante-Murcia Line given its proximity to the Port of Alicante, the busiest commercial port in the Spanish Mediterranean at the time.
Designed by the engineer M. Alessandri, the building’s façade has undergone few modifications over the years and is thus almost identical to its original design.
The popular Tabacalera (a Tobacco factory) is today a cultural centre called Las Cigarreras: created at the beginning of the 19th century, it constitutes a remarkable architectural ensemble representing Alicante’s urban heritage.
The compound includes a series of buildings and several cultural spaces such as: the Caja Negra, the outdoor multifunctional auditorium that hosts musical and theatrical performances; a Cultural Heritage building; and the Casa de la Música. The grounds also house a Vertical Garden, the Secadero and the ‘La Cigarrera’ cafeteria- restaurant with its peculiar facade, covered by a frame built with wooden strips that looks like the carapace of an insect.
The Pantheon of Quijano, a well-preserved romantic garden, and Alicante’s bullring are nearby.
The recently built Auditorium of the Provincial Council of Alicante, ADDA, is located next to the Paseo de Campoamor. The building is a work by the architect Juan Antonio García Solera and includes rehearsal rooms, conference rooms and two concert halls.
The main symphonic music hall has a capacity for 1,200 spectators. The stage can hold up to 120 musicians and 140 choir voices. The Chamber Orchestra room has a capacity of 320 seats and there are four other audition rooms added to two orchestra rehearsal rooms.
The Auditorium’s exterior is notable for its diaphanous and minimalist appearance: straight lines and grey colours prevail inside, in the line of avant-garde design.
