"L'Illa"
(2018-2020)
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Su presencia enigmática y majestuosa atrae a todo aquel que osa mirar al Mediterráneo desde las playas de Benidorm. Como un imán, ejerce un poder de atracción del que ni mi cámara ni yo pudimos, ni quisimos, escapar.
Muchas leyendas explican la aparición de este islote en medio del mar, aunque todas tienen el mismo origen: La isla, es la hendidura que le falta a la montaña de Puig Campana, que se encuentra de espaldas a la ciudad.
De entre todas estas leyendas, destaca la del héroe francés Roldán, comandante de Carlomagno. Cuenta la leyenda, que combatiendo con un jefe moro, ensimismados ambos en la batalla, acabaron frente a frente en la cima de esta montaña. Roldán levantó su espada Durandarte para, descargando toda su furia, darle al infiel el golpe final. Éste logró esquivarlo y fue tal la fuerza con la que Roldán golpeó, que cortó un gran trozo de roca que cayó rodando hasta el mar.
Otra versión con el mismo protagonista, relata que Roldán descargó sobre la montaña su espada para alargar el día al caer enamorado de una hermosa doncella moribunda. Le aseguraron a Roldán que su amada moriría con el último rayo de sol. Inmerso en un profundo dolor, trató de impedir que los rayos de luz cesaran, haciendo un inmenso tajo a la montaña para permitir pasar la luz del sol.
Por todo ello, los marineros conocen la isla como la cuchillada de Roldán. Recibe otros nombres: La isla de los periodistas, la isla de los pavos reales o la isla de Benidorm. Yo me quedo con el nombre que le dan los lugareños: L’Illa, a secas.
En muchas de las siguientes imágenes, L’Illa, ejerce un protagonismo casi insultante. En otras, sin embargo, se muestra condescendiente, cediendo su papel protagonista y pasando a ser mera espectadora de una ciudad que la observa y que la admira.
Its enigmatic and majestic presence attracts anyone who dares to contemplate the Mediterranean from the beaches of Benidorm. Like a magnet, it exerts a power of attraction that neither my camera nor I, could nor wanted to escape.
Many legends explain the appearance of this islet in the middle of the sea although they all have the same origin: the island is the cleft that is missing in the mountain of Puig Campana, which is far from the city.
Among all these legends highlights out the French hero Roldán, commander of Charlemagne. The legend says that he fought with a Moorish chief. Both absorbed in the battle, they ended up facing each other at the top of this mountain. Roldan raised his sword Durandarte unleashing all his fury, giving the infidel the final blow. He managed to dodge it and it was with such a great force that Roldan hit that he cut a large piece of rock that fell into the sea.
Another version with the same protagonist relates that Roldan unloaded on the mountain his sword to lengthen the day and fall in love with a beautiful dying maiden. They assured Roldán that his beloved would die with the last ray of sun. Immersed in the deep pain he tried to prevent the rays of light from ceasing, making an immense cut in the mountain to allow the rays of light to pass through.
Because of all this, the sailors know the island like Roldán’s knife. It receives other names: the island of journalists, the island of the peacocks or the island of Benidorm. I will take the name given by the locals: L’Illa, to dry.
In many of the following images L’Illa exerts an almost insulting protagonism. However, in others, she is condescending, renouncing her main role and becoming a mere spectator of a city that observes and admires her.
Many legends explain the appearance of this islet in the middle of the sea although they all have the same origin: the island is the cleft that is missing in the mountain of Puig Campana, which is far from the city.
Among all these legends highlights out the French hero Roldán, commander of Charlemagne. The legend says that he fought with a Moorish chief. Both absorbed in the battle, they ended up facing each other at the top of this mountain. Roldan raised his sword Durandarte unleashing all his fury, giving the infidel the final blow. He managed to dodge it and it was with such a great force that Roldan hit that he cut a large piece of rock that fell into the sea.
Another version with the same protagonist relates that Roldan unloaded on the mountain his sword to lengthen the day and fall in love with a beautiful dying maiden. They assured Roldán that his beloved would die with the last ray of sun. Immersed in the deep pain he tried to prevent the rays of light from ceasing, making an immense cut in the mountain to allow the rays of light to pass through.
Because of all this, the sailors know the island like Roldán’s knife. It receives other names: the island of journalists, the island of the peacocks or the island of Benidorm. I will take the name given by the locals: L’Illa, to dry.
In many of the following images L’Illa exerts an almost insulting protagonism. However, in others, she is condescending, renouncing her main role and becoming a mere spectator of a city that observes and admires her.