Cultural reflections on vanishing places and historical nostalgia

Reflections on the concept of 'anemoia'—nostalgia for a time or place one has never personally experienced—are explored through the lens of disappearing landscapes and historical transformations.

In a discussion regarding Espido Freire’s recent publication, 'Guía de lugares que ya no existen', various locations are cited as examples of places that have fundamentally changed or vanished. These include the multicultural atmosphere of former Sarajevo, the colonial era of Macau, and the historic sites of Athens. The text also touches upon the Prespa Lakes, situated between North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece, as a site of personal and imagined connection.

Further reflections connect these themes of temporal change to the experience of observing a solar eclipse from a historic fortification near the Ebro River. The narrative contrasts the original military purpose of such structures—designed for surveillance and defense—with the modern, peaceful pursuit of witnessing celestial phenomena.