Santander's Magdalena Palace Stables Declared a Place of Democratic Memory in Decision Published in Official Gazette
Spain's Official State Gazette published on October 26 a resolution by the State Secretariat for Democratic Memory declaring the former stables of the Magdalena Palace in Santander, Cantabria, a Place of Democratic Memory, effective from the day of publication.
The decision is based on the 2022 Democratic Memory Law, under which places linked to repression during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship can be declared Places of Democratic Memory. Once declared, their history must be explained in public materials, interpretation signage installed and the sites protected jointly by the administrations.
The Magdalena Palace stables were used as a detention site during the Franco period and today house student accommodation. Santander's city council and memory associations have taken different positions in recent years on how this history should be commemorated.
The declaration does not change the building's day-to-day use, but requires public institutions to document and safeguard its history, with detailed interpretation arrangements to follow.
Source: Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Spain
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：桑坦德 La Magdalena 宫餐厅。Jl FilpoC 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 4.0。 / Photo: Interior of the Magdalena Palace in Santander. Photo by Jl FilpoC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
