The historian and cultural promoter Jesús Pozuelo will be responsible for delivering the proclamation of the Velá de Santa Ana 2026, which will kick off on July 21 in Altozano. The speech will combine historical rigor and personal experiences to pay tribute to the Triana neighbourhood.
On July 21 at 22:00, the Altozano of Triana will become the stage for the proclamation of the Velá de Santa Ana 2026, led by the historian and cultural promoter Jesús Pozuelo. A native of the neighbourhood, Pozuelo approaches the task with the intention of offering a journey through the memory of Triana while keeping in mind those who keep it alive every day.
The proclaimant confesses that he still vividly remembers the moment he learned of his appointment. “I was having breakfast on Calle Castilla, I got home and received a call from the district delegate. I had no idea. It was an enormous joy and a huge honour. I had to lie down on the bed to process the news for quite a few minutes,” Pozuelo recounts, promising a speech full of emotion.
A proclamation that mixes history and personal experiences
Historical dissemination occupies a prominent place in Jesús Pozuelo's career and will also play an important role in the proclamation. However, he assures that it will not be a history lesson, but rather a narrative where the past and emotions walk hand in hand. “The proclamation has an important historical component because the history of Triana has fascinated me since I was a child. But it also includes my family’s history, my experiences, and all the people who have built this neighbourhood,” he reveals.
This combination of historical rigor and personal experiences aims to condense centuries of events and memories into a speech that connects with residents of different generations. “The most difficult part will be compressing so many interesting things from a millennia-old neighbourhood and managing to evoke emotions with them,” acknowledges Pozuelo, who has been researching and disseminating the past of Triana for years.
Triana retains its authenticity, according to the proclaimant
Against the cliché that Triana has lost its identity, the proclaimant maintains that the neighbourhood continues to preserve a large part of its personality intact. “It is always said that Triana is no longer what it was. Everything changes, just as cities change, but it still retains its remnants and its authenticity. There is still that village feeling here,” Pozuelo asserts.
It is always said that Triana is no longer what it was. Everything changes, just as cities change, but it still retains its remnants and its authenticity. There is still that village feeling here.
Far from opposing tradition and tourism, he believes that both can coexist in such a unique enclave. “Triana is a unique neighbourhood, and it is logical that anyone coming to Seville would want to get to know it. The important thing is that it continues to preserve that essence that makes it different,” asserts the proclaimant of the Velá, who sees the mix of visitors and locals as an opportunity to keep the essence of the neighbourhood alive.
A proclamation to evoke emotions and memories
When asked what he would like to remain in the memory of those who listen to his speech in a few years, Jesús Pozuelo does not hesitate: he wants to “evoke emotions through the story of Triana.” This emotion will come, he explains, both from the tangible heritage and from the intangible heritage represented by those who have shaped the neighbourhood generation after generation.
“Triana has the capacity to evoke emotions in both those who live here and those who come from outside. I want to do it through its history, its culture, its people, and all those social and heritage values that make up this neighbourhood,” reveals the cultural promoter. The proclamation will be broadcast live by 101TV from 21:00, with special programming to follow the start of the oldest major festival in the city.
The residents of Triana and all of Seville are invited to attend Altozano to listen to a speech that promises to be a heartfelt tribute to the neighbourhood. The event, on July 21 at 22:00, will kick off a Velá de Santa Ana that, once again, will fill the streets of the most emblematic neighbourhood of the capital of Seville with light, music, and tradition.
You may also like
