The legend of the Carbonell House in Alicante

If you pass by Alicante’s Explanada de España, an imposing building at number 1 will catch your eye. This is the Casa Carbonell, a Valencian modernist building that stands out for its French-style façade and the majesty of its materials, with marble, iron and glass. Created between 1922-1925 by the architect Juan Vidal Ramos for the fabric manufacturer Enrique Carbonell, legend has it that the Alcoy businessman had it built right next to the hotel where years earlier he had been refused entry. In 1918, Carbonell had decided to move to the capital, seduced by its climate, but after suffering an incident on the journey that ruined and soiled his clothes, he turned up at the Hotel Palas somewhat disfigured. The majestic building that today bears his name and is occupied by various private homes and businesses, was his particular vendetta. Legend or reality, the building is a symbol of the growth of the local textile industry and the new bourgeoisie that emerged around it. An enclave of history and culture that is well worth a visit.