Casa Natal of Blas Infante

Casa Natal of Blas Infante

Casa Natal of Blas Infante
4
What people are saying
Turista-Inglesa
By Turista-Inglesa
They have tried hard . . . but it's no great shakes, to be honest
3.0 of 5 bubblesFeb 2016
. It's an old village house, but unfortunately, apart from some of the kitchen (a charcoal cooking area, and a few pots), curiously settled upstairs instead of downstairs where it would have been, there has been no attempt at all to show us the house as it would have been a hundred or so years ago. Instead, they have made a frankly rather boring display of panels describing events in the life of Blas Infante. In Spanish. That's fine if you can stand and read half- a-dozen or more large information panels relating events, some of minor historical impact, with people you have never heard of, in the main. But not many visitors can. Blas Infante was an important historical figure, and relevant today because of his fight not just for Andalusian regionalism (he also invented the Andalusian striped flag, and the "national" anthem), but for his fight for social justice. He was horrified by the living conditions of the day-labourers, who had no fixed employment, just being taken on by the day when the rich landowners (or rather their Stewards - these were absentee landlords) needed them for specific tasks. They were soaked by the freezing torrential rains of winter and by the sweat from the torrid sun in summer, he wrote. They - and their children - were illiterate, barefooted, and often hungry. But you won't learn this from here, to be honest. Upstairs there is a video - lasts about 20 minutes - where a young child talks to his grandmother who explains the main monuments of the town and the main events of the life of Blas Infante. It is very well done - I took a class of (Spanish) 9-10 year-olds, who sat in rapt silence throughout. But again it is in Spanish only. Unless you speak and read Spanish (and actually are able to follow Andalusian Spanish, which was spoken by the Granny, although the boy spoke pure Castillian), you won't get the most out of this visit. For example, you will miss learning about the Siege of Casares, which took place not in the long ago past, but in May 1976. 1976, under Franco's dictatorship of Spain. The then Mayor of Casares, Jose Navarro, wanted to hold a little ceremony in honour of Blas Infante, including putting up a bust in the main square. (Still there today, by the way). The Civil Governor of the province passed on instructions from the Franco Government in Madrid that there was to be no ceremony, and told anyone who had been thinking of attending to stay away from Casares, as it could be an inconvenient trip. The Civil Guard took up position on the access roads to Casares and blocked them, letting no traffic or pedestrians in or out of the town. But people who wished to attend got round this by travelling on foot, on horseback, or on mules and donkeys, using the old footpaths and muletracks across the hills. A fascinating story. It's just a pity that it is not more accessible to non-Spanish speaking visitors. The town itself is, of course, charming, with numerous little bars and restaurants. But this house-museum will probably be a bit of a disappointment for many visitors. .

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4.0 of 5 bubbles14 reviews
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Turista-Inglesa
Estepona, Spain45,491 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016 • Friends
.

It's an old village house, but unfortunately, apart from some of the kitchen (a charcoal cooking area, and a few pots), curiously settled upstairs instead of downstairs where it would have been, there has been no attempt at all to show us the house as it would have been a hundred or so years ago.

Instead, they have made a frankly rather boring display of panels describing events in the life of Blas Infante.

In Spanish.

That's fine if you can stand and read half- a-dozen or more large information panels relating events, some of minor historical impact, with people you have never heard of, in the main. But not many visitors can.

Blas Infante was an important historical figure, and relevant today because of his fight not just for Andalusian regionalism (he also invented the Andalusian striped flag, and the "national" anthem), but for his fight for social justice.

He was horrified by the living conditions of the day-labourers, who had no fixed employment, just being taken on by the day when the rich landowners (or rather their Stewards - these were absentee landlords) needed them for specific tasks. They were soaked by the freezing torrential rains of winter and by the sweat from the torrid sun in summer, he wrote. They - and their children - were illiterate, barefooted, and often hungry.

But you won't learn this from here, to be honest.

Upstairs there is a video - lasts about 20 minutes - where a young child talks to his grandmother who explains the main monuments of the town and the main events of the life of Blas Infante. It is very well done - I took a class of (Spanish) 9-10 year-olds, who sat in rapt silence throughout.

But again it is in Spanish only.

Unless you speak and read Spanish (and actually are able to follow Andalusian Spanish, which was spoken by the Granny, although the boy spoke pure Castillian), you won't get the most out of this visit. For example, you will miss learning about the Siege of Casares, which took place not in the long ago past, but in May 1976.

1976, under Franco's dictatorship of Spain.

The then Mayor of Casares, Jose Navarro, wanted to hold a little ceremony in honour of Blas Infante, including putting up a bust in the main square. (Still there today, by the way).

The Civil Governor of the province passed on instructions from the Franco Government in Madrid that there was to be no ceremony, and told anyone who had been thinking of attending to stay away from Casares, as it could be an inconvenient trip.

The Civil Guard took up position on the access roads to Casares and blocked them, letting no traffic or pedestrians in or out of the town. But people who wished to attend got round this by travelling on foot, on horseback, or on mules and donkeys, using the old footpaths and muletracks across the hills.

A fascinating story. It's just a pity that it is not more accessible to non-Spanish speaking visitors.

The town itself is, of course, charming, with numerous little bars and restaurants.

But this house-museum will probably be a bit of a disappointment for many visitors.

.
Written 10 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert P
Swansea, UK15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Friends
Birthplace of the father of Andalucian autonomy - and so much more. Very peaceful and delightful corner of the beautiful town of Casares
Written 4 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BennyMalaga
Malaga, Spain89,730 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2012 • Couples
The Birth House (Casa Natal) of Blas Infante is located at Calle Carrera, 51. This is a museum and shows the house where Blas Infante, the Father of Andalusian Patriotism, was born on July 5, 1885. The museum has information about the life of this patriot which gives one a better understanding of his thoughts and person. The house also has a small exhibition hall which features art from local artists.

Blas Infante was a writer, politician, and historian. He designed the coat of arms and flag that represents Andalusia. He advocated regional autonomy and at the start of the Spanish Civil War, he was killed in Seville on Aug. 11, 1936, by the forces of Franco.
Written 3 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tchrs
Tucson, AZ478 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Couples
The only difficulty is one needs a tiny little bit of Spanish to understand Blas and his battle with Franco. The exhibit was very good and our questions answered in a mixture of Spanish and English. Worth a quick look.
Written 20 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PadrePeter
Campanillas188 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2013 • Family
In a quiet and restrained way this house sets out the life and career of the great Andalucian nationalist Blas Infante; creator of both the flag and anthem of this Province, and author of a number of books on the region. It is a place for study and reflection, as well as for a quick visit to learn more about Andalucia's past.
Written 3 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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CASA NATAL OF BLAS INFANTE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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