The Gypsy Community of Alcoi Celebrates St. John by Reviving the Living Memory of 'La Cuesta de las Flores'

The Agora of Alcoi hosted a commemorative event on June 27th, organised by the Department of Inclusive Policies, where the local gypsy community shared experiences, memories, and culture in celebration of St. John.

The event centred around direct testimonies from individuals who lived in La Cuesta de las Flores during the 1970s, a former settlement where a significant part of the gypsy community's life in the city unfolded.

The choice of date was no coincidence. During the celebration of the International Romani Day on April 8th, the community itself expressed the importance of St. John as an essential festivity, marked by family gatherings and traditions. Thus, the occasion was seized to revive the memory of that era, bringing it closer to the public through intergenerational dialogue and cultural recognition.

This event is also linked to the exhibition '1970s, Living in La Cuesta de las Flores', by Alcoyan photographer Elías Seguí, a photographic display documenting daily life in the gypsy settlement of those years. The images, of high historical, social, and human value, sensitively and realistically depict the daily life, relationships, and environment of a community that is part of Alcoi's living memory. This initiative gains even more significance this year, coinciding with the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the gypsy community to the Iberian Peninsula.

The Councillor for Inclusive Policies and Participation, Aroa Mira, emphasised that "we aim to recognise the history, roots, and culture of the gypsy community through initiatives that promote inclusion and social visibility" and added that "we want to normalise situations and highlight that these are people who are fully integrated and part of Alcoyan society with their customs and culture, which deserve to be known and respected."