The Spanish Government has taken steps to declare Alicante a Place of Democratic Memory, elevating its historical significance linked to the collective memory of Spain during the Civil War and dictatorship. The official government notice highlights two key incidents: the bombing of the Central Market on the twenty-fifth of May, nineteen thirty-eight, and the profound exile via its port.

During the bombing, Italian aircraft supporting the rebel forces dropped up to ninety bombs on a crowded market, resulting in two hundred seventy-three deaths and at least two hundred forty-four injuries. This tragedy drew international condemnation, prompting the formation of an investigative commission from Britain, Norway, and Sweden, which concluded that the attack on civilians was deliberate.

In March nineteen thirty-nine, Alicante also became a crucial port for refugees as the Civil War came to a close. Several notable ships, including the infamous Stanbrook, helped evacuate thousands of refugees, though the port was rife with desperation as many faced the prospect of repression. Many combatants were unable to escape and were interned in various concentration camps.

Additionally, Alicante is the resting place of the renowned poet Miguel Hernández, who died in prison in nineteen forty-two. His grave has become a site of remembrance, symbolising the city’s profound ties to Spain’s historical struggles, impacting collective memory long after those tragic events.