This afternoon, the Real Alcázar palace in Seville was the place where a tribute to the memory of former Mayor of the City Manuel del Valle Arévalo took place. The Mayor, who occupied the position between 1983 and 1991, passed away in March of this year at the age of 80. His legacy, however, is considered to be quite significant for the Andalusian capital and he is well remembered and respected there.
“The quiet man who transformed Seville”
People who knew him and worked with him paid respect to his life and work, among them was Nani Carvajal, the Chief Press Officer during his administration. The Municipal Symphonic Band performed several pieces, such as ‘Sevilla’ by Isaac Albéniz, while different videos showing the life and work of Mr Del Valle were projected.
Manuel del Valle is largely thought to have been central to the urban transformation of Seville in the 1980s, part of which was in preparation for the city to play host to the World Expo in 1992. Some of the infrastructural projects which mark Seville today were inaugurated during his tenure, such as the Alamillo Bridge, designed by the renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and the Santa Justa Railway Station.
The current mayor of Seville, Juan Espadas, also attended the tribute. He emphasized the important role of his predecessor for the cultural awakening of the city.
“I want to show as the current mayor and as a Sevillian my admiration for the firm pulse maintained at the head of the City Council and my gratitude for the impulse that Seville had under his two terms to take its place, and on its own merit, among the four major cities of note in Spain“, said Espadas.
He stressed that “thanks to the hard work in those long days, today Seville continues to breathe. The planning and execution that resulted in widening the city limits, continue to be a studied urban reference and an inspiration for those of us who have to make decisions in the present”.
Source: TheMayor.EU
