The Port of Motril, in line with its strategic development of offerings for cruise ship and regular passenger services, has presented a "cultural proposal of great value" at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR), according to its president, José García Fuentes. This route brings together resources related to the Battle of Lepanto, which pitted the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire in 1571, and its key figures, especially Miguel de Cervantes. In fact, history places him in Motril in 1594 as a tax collector for King Philip II, raising funds for his major campaigns.
“The route, centered around the rebellion and the figure of Miguel de Cervantes – as García Fuentes explained – offers a journey adaptable to the needs of each shipping company, with optional itineraries.” Thus, passengers will be greeted at the Port of Motril by members of the Spanish infantry regiments and will receive a badge commemorating their service, both upon arrival and departure.
The proposed itinerary includes tours of the Nasrid Gardens of Vélez de Benaudalla, Granada, with visits to the Abbey of the Sacromented, the Monastery of San Jerónimo, the Church of Saints Justo and Pastor, Álvaro de Bazán Street, Bibrambla Square, the Church of San Gil and Santa Ana, and the original inn on Mesones Street, possibly the residence of Miguel de Cervantes during his time in Granada as a tax collector. The tour then returns to Motril with a visit to Cervantes Street and a reenactment of his stay. A reading will be given of the passage that mentions the death of Alonso Marañón, Knight of the Order of Santiago, based on the shipwreck of the Spanish Armada in the Port of La Herradura in 1562. The story also places Cervantes in the coastal towns of Salobreña and Almuñécar, “destinations of great interest and strongholds for the Port of Motril,” García Fuentes emphasized.
The most prominent personalities of the 16th century will be the common thread of the story of the memory of Lepanto on the route, among others, Don Álvaro de Bazán, María 'La bailadora', the only female soldier in the battle, Philip II, Don Juan of Austria, Captain General of Granada in the War of the Alpujarras and in Lepanto and Pope Pius V, promoter of the Holy League.
In designing this route, in addition to seeking innovation, consideration has been given to the quality and reliability of the places included in the visit, the possibility of carrying it out in different languages and for audiences of different nationalities.
The overall objective of this project is to provide the customer with a unique experience. Furthermore, it aims to enhance the value proposition of the cruise activity by incorporating elements of heritage and history, promote knowledge and dissemination of a specific historical period, strengthen ties between tourism and education, and bring history to life with the active participation of the user in the development of the activities.
The project was designed by Cesar de Requeses Moll, a journalist and writer with extensive professional experience. He has worked for newspapers and is the author of, among other titles, the guide "Granada insólita y secreta" (Unusual and Secret Granada). In 2008, he founded Granada Secreta, a company specializing in cultural tourism.
