The government team of the Dénia City Council (PSPV-Compromís) will bring to the ordinary plenary session this April a motion aimed at guaranteeing the protection, restoration and promotion of the "Dukes of Alba", elements of great historical and cultural relevance in the port context of the city.
The motion, proposed by the municipal group Gent of Dénia, seeks to urge the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and the General Directorate of Ports of the Generalitat Valenciana to take concrete measures to safeguard these historical elements. Likewise, the implementation of the Action Plan proposed in a technical report prepared by the Archeology Area of the Dénia City Council is requested.
Massu Sentí, head of the Archeology Area of the Dénia City Council, has highlighted the importance of preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the city. According to a report updated by Sentí, the history of the four “Duques de Alba” elements that still remain standing between the Nautical Club and the Noguera shipyard is detailed. In the past, there were up to eight "dukes", and one of them has almost completely lost its surface area.
History of the «Dukes of Alba» pylons
The port of Dénia, in its evolution from a natural port of refuge to its development as a commercial port, has been crucial to the history of the city. In the past, it faced challenges such as storms that caused damage to boats and coastal infrastructure. The construction of shelter breakwaters, promoted by local merchants and carried out in 1897, marked a milestone in the protection of the port.
In 1928, Anastasio Corchón designed pylons, popularly known as "Duques de Alba", whose objective was to facilitate the mooring and docking maneuvers of commercial vessels. The term "Dukes of Alba" seems to come from the Spanish Netherlands, related to the word docke, dock, and delfijn, pylon, mooring; Called in Dutch "dukdalf", which is a pylon stuck in stagnant waters, in which the ships had to moor from the stern, with the bow anchored outwards and use lutes and smaller boats to do the loading and unloading tasks.
These moorings, essential for the operation of the port in their time, are a tangible testimony of the commercial and maritime activity that characterized Dénia. Likewise, they represent a historical legacy, which dates back to the time of the international raisin trade, which represents a very important chapter in the economic history of our port and our city.
Therefore, the purpose of the "Dukes of Alba" was to provide the port of Dénia with a hitherto non-existent docking dock, whose works began in 1898. However, it was a slow and very expensive process, which had to be delayed on multiple occasions due to some natural adversities, and technical and economic difficulties. Between 1928 and 1932 the docks would be finished and the commercial docks would be built.
Action plan
The technical report proposes an action plan that "would allow the recovery of the most characteristic image of the port, with the southern breakwater in the background." The plan would include: a research process that determines the number of elements, restitution of the original form of the three preserved specimens, construction of the five completely lost dukes of alba, as well as the incorporation of the dukes of alba in an informative project from the Museum of the Sea. Finally, in the long term, the plan recommends incorporating the elements into the exhibition discourse of an Interpretation Center of the Port of Dénia.
This initiative to value heritage aims to rescue an emblematic element of the port history of Dénia, before it deteriorates irremediably. Furthermore, the restoration of the "Dukes of Alba" would be an opportunity to celebrate and promote the city's maritime history, remembering its role in international trade and strengthening links with its past.
