"The Defence of Valencia during the Spanish Civil War"
On 11th, 12th and 13th July, Viver hosted the 3rd Historical Reenactment Days, held under the title “The Defence of Valencia during the Spanish Civil War”.
The opening ceremony was led by the Honourable Mayor Vicente Ferrer, and was followed by an engaging talk on the Battle of Levante, the Battle of Viver, and the defence of Valencia, delivered by Blas Vicente and Manuel Molina.
The Battle of Levante took place during the final phase of the war and saw intense fighting in Viver, which became a key point in halting the advance of Francoist troops on their way to Valencia. Viver was left devastated and almost entirely evacuated.
From that conflict remains a valuable military heritage: trenches from the XYZ Line and bunkers, silent witnesses to the horrors of an unjust and fratricidal war.
Part of this legacy is preserved and interpreted at the Interpretation Centre of the Battle of Levante (CIBAL), located within the El Convento Cultural Space.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, which forced some activities to be rescheduled, the event drew a notable turnout of visitors interested in contemporary history.
Attendees enjoyed a commemorative market, a military collectibles fair, and the installation of a camp and living museum, all brought to life by historical reenactment groups.
On Sunday morning, a reenactment of the Battle of Viver took place on San Roque hill, featuring Republican militiamen and Italian soldiers who supported the Nationalist side.
In addition, Blas Vicente and Manolo Molina led a guided tour through the key historical sites related to the conflict within the municipality.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the book Jotas for a War, led by its authors Blas Vicente and César García, and accompanied by live performances of some of the jotas featured in the work.
This book is the result of extensive field research and collection work, documenting lesser-known verses sung by both sides during the war.
The lyrics reflect the experiences and emotions of those who lived through the conflict from different perspectives, dismantling the myth that the jota is exclusively a right-wing song. In doing so, the work expands our cultural and emotional understanding of this popular musical tradition.
These Reenactment Days have once again highlighted the importance of CIBAL as a centre for historical memory. This year, its role has been further strengthened by a significant increase in public interest and participation — not only during the event, but throughout the year — establishing it as a key cultural, tourist and educational landmark in the region.
📸 Photos by Guillermo Rodríguez and Víctor Noguera Lafuente
