The Mediterranean Foundation Opens Part of Its Legacy in Alicante

The desk of Gabriel Miró with his two unfinished works, the piano of Óscar Esplá, the uniform of Guillén Tato. The Mediterranean Foundation, inheritor of the deposits and legacies gathered over 150 years by the Mediterranean Savings Bank (CAM), opens to the public a small part of the province's history and its own. The exhibition is symbolically named 'Wide Open' and is now on display at the Ramón y Cajal 5 venue.

Out of the 300,000 original documents catalogued by the Mediterranean Foundation, the exhibition brings to light 285, many of which are displayed for the first time. They offer a journey through the province's history from the 15th century to the present. Among the most striking pieces is a 1538 Bible that is part of the so-called Old Fund, prior to the 18th century, as well as an early map of the Philippines from the 17th century, showcased after delicate restoration work.

The president of the Mediterranean Foundation, Luis Boyer, highlighted that 'Wide Open' is "the first attractive exhibition of 'papers'," as it "adds value" and context to the object itself, situating it in its era and explaining its impact on history.

"This exhibition marks a milestone in our mission: to open our collections to society and return to the public the legacy of centuries of creation, thought, and commitment. We wanted to do it from an emotional, intellectual, and open perspective, so that the public discovers not only what we preserve, but why we preserve it and how it speaks to us today," stated the Foundation's president. Boyer emphasizes that Wide Open "reclaims the role that heritage plays as a seed for new ideas, projects, and connections with our territory."

'Wide Open' has been structured "like a symphony," explains the exhibition's curator, Carmen Velasco. It consists of four movements with an interlude, all structured to intertwine the universe, science, spirituality, art, memory, and identity.

The exhibition can be visited from May 8, 2025, at the Exhibition Hall of the Mediterranean Foundation in Alicante, entrance via Ramón y Cajal Avenue, 5, opposite Canalejas Park. Admission is free, and visiting hours are Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a program of guided tours and educational activities, especially designed for educational centres. Reservations can be made via email at visitas@fundacionmediterraneo.es. Every Saturday at 12 pm, there will be a guided tour of the exhibition, for which a reservation is required at three euros through the Foundation's website www.fundacionmediterraneo.es