Alicante receives historic fan donated by daughter of first Bellea del Foc

Lynda Martinelli, the daughter of Amparito Quereda Bernabéu, the first Bellea del Foc, has donated a historic hand-painted fan to the city of Alicante. The fan was used by Quereda during her reign in 1932.

During an institutional reception at the Alicante City Hall, Martinelli was met by Mayor Luis Barcala, the president of the Centenary Foundation, and other local officials. The visit serves as a precursor to the upcoming centenary celebrations of the Hogueras festival, scheduled for 2028.

The artifact is signed by José Marced, one of the creators of the ‘Parada y fonda’ hoguera, which won the first prize for Benalúa in 1928. The fan features hand-painted imagery of a couple in regional attire and a burning hoguera. Following an examination and cataloging process by the Department of Culture, the piece will be added to the collections of the Museo de Hogueras de Alicante.