Nueva Tabarca, a paradigm of multidisciplinar heritage (1)

Tabarca Island. Photography by Jose B. Ruiz

Many words could write about my personal and professional relationship with José B. Ruiz, director and ideologist of this project…, this great crusade, in his own words, that represents S.O.S. Spanish Coastline. We met in 2001, and together joined also an odissy, not in the outer space, but in an enigmatic place, a small island known since 18th century as Nueva Tabarca.

From that moment started the steps that leaded to a museum project finishing at 2004, based on the analysis, interpretation and spreading of a magnificent heritage place that is placed in front of Santa Pola cope and belongs to Alicante city.

Nueva Tabarca has a surprising city sorrounded by an ancient wall from times of Carlos III, an example of the academicist urbanism of the new distribution cities of the second half of the XVIII century, following utopic plans of ancient times. In the same way, the inhabitants, the tabarquinos, brought from Geneve, in Italy, and first stablished on the island, after several historic facts, have practised a big number of fishing arts, their main commercial activity, what has contributed to make a huge etnographic heritage in relation with the sea. That sea sorrounding the island, declared as Marine Reserve by its rich biodiversity. Waters that keep so many elements that make of our Mediterranean Sea, the ancient Mare Nostrum, a sea of life and culture.

Nature and culture, both inseparable in paradigmatic places as Nueva Tabarca, places we have the right and the obligation to preserve, protect, spread, and, of course, enjoy, for ourselves and our future generations.

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