Guided tours of Alicante’s Air-raid Shelters - Route 2

ROUTE 2: Central Market and Air‑Raid Shelters R36 (Plaza Castellón) and R69 (Tobacco Factory)

Passive resistance in Alicante: a city under the bombs.

Join a moving experience that brings back the memory, courage and human stories of Alicante during the conflict.

This guided tour is not just a walk through the structures that protected the civilian population; it is a journey into the heart of Alicante’s society during the war years.

We will begin our route at Plaza 25 de Mayo, next to the memorial that pays tribute to the victims of the tragic bombing of the Central Market in 1938. From this starting point, we will contextualise the situation of the city, highlighting the personal experiences of citizens and refugees who sought shelter in Alicante.

Throughout the itinerary, we will explore key locations and uncover stories transformed by time:

Shelter R36 (Plaza Castellón): On our way to this shelter, we will stop to learn about the history of the Escuela Modelo and the figure of Gastón Castelló, focusing on education and childhood during the conflict. We will also examine how the Carolinas neighbourhood became involved in protecting the civilian population.

Former Tobacco Factory and Shelter R69: A fundamental site for understanding Alicante’s social fabric. Here we will highlight the importance of the Casa de Misericordia and the pioneering role of working women, whose fight for labour rights marked a turning point in the city.

Practical information

• Meeting point: Plaza 25 de Mayo (next to the Central Market).
• Sites visited: Shelters R36 (Plaza Castellón) and R69 (Tobacco Factory).
• Themes: Social history, defensive architecture, education and women’s rights.
• Distance: approx. 1.5 km.
• Duration: approx. 2 hours.

Don’t miss the chance to discover the Alicante that protected itself beneath its squares.

Limited places available.