The history of Almería during the Civil War becomes more tangible with the recovery of the traces left by those who sought protection in the underground galleries. A new contract, promoted by the City Council, complements the ongoing comprehensive renovation and musealization efforts for the Shelters, focusing on restoring the engravings on their walls.
These markings, which include names like Francisco or the initials Pozo JM, alongside the word Almería and various arrows, are considered fragments of anonymous lives seeking to reaffirm their identity or alleviate fear during the bombings. They are now receiving advanced technical treatment to ensure their legibility and preservation.
“"Working on the Almería Shelters represents a challenge with a great emotional and technical load. We are not only working on walls, but on the direct testimonies of those who sought protection in them."
The intervention, awarded to the company Jarquil, will last six months and will consolidate the walls, rescuing these elements from oblivion that the passage of time and humidity threatened to erase. This project is crucial to prevent the deterioration of these unique testimonies, which transform the museum space into an open diary of survival.
The proper conservation of the walls and graffiti is vital to maintain the authenticity of the cultural experience offered by the Shelters, especially given the large number of visitors they receive. The specialized multidisciplinary team leading this task has previously worked on restoring other heritage elements in the city.
