The delegate for Major Festivals, Manuel Alés, participated in the inauguration ceremony of the street named Sebastián Miguel de Varas y Miranda, located near the Sanctuary of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies. This recognition honors the figure who founded the corporation and played a crucial role in defending numerous Spanish Gypsies during the Great Roundup of the 18th century.
The event was attended by the senior brother of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies, Emilio Jiménez Núñez; the delegate for the Casco Antiguo district, Amidea Navarro; the vice-president of the Council of Brotherhoods and Confraternities, José Carretero; and the delegate for La Madrugá, José Moncayo, among other personalities.
Manuel Alés emphasized that the streets of Seville reflect its history, values, and the people who have built it, calling the naming an "act of justice." He highlighted the significance of the naming next to the Sanctuary of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies and coinciding with the commemoration of six centuries since the arrival of the Gypsy people in Spain.
The delegate recalled that Sebastián Miguel de Varas y Miranda founded the Brotherhood of the Gypsies and his actions were decisive in saving many Spanish Gypsies from the episode of the Great Roundup of the 18th century. Thanks to his work, Seville became a "sanctuary" for the city's Gypsies, promoting education.
Alés also highlighted the current importance of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies, not only for its religious and heritage dimension but as a "living entity" with constant social action that structures the neighborhood and maintains the spirit of mutual aid conceived by its founder.
The Brotherhood is an inseparable part of Seville's identity due to its history of coexistence, solidarity, and social commitment, keeping alive its heritage, its importance in Holy Week, and its social work linked to the neighborhood and the Gypsy people.
Finally, Manuel Alés stated that the new street will allow the name and trajectory of Sebastián Miguel de Varas y Miranda to transcend the Brotherhood's archives, recognizing him as "a just Sevillian, ahead of his time, who neutralized hatred with generosity and education."
