The mayor of Rincón de la Victoria, Francisco Salado, has awarded a prize to Juan Bautista Salado for his work in the recovery of historical heritage, at an event held in Benagalbón.
The mayor of Rincón de la Victoria, Francisco Salado, has highlighted "the human value and the pride of feeling part of a place" as key elements for building the future of the municipality, during the commemorative event of the 191st anniversary of the constitution of the first Town Hall, held this evening at the Folklore Centre of Benagalbón.
During the event, the mayor presented an award to Juan Bautista Salado, recognised for his role in the recovery, conservation and dissemination of the historical and cultural heritage of the municipality, with special ties to projects such as Villa Antiopa, the Cueva del Tesoro, and the future Museum of Popular Arts of Benagalbón.
Salado defended that "a municipality is not built solely by its streets, its buildings, its squares or its institutions. A municipality is built by its people," and emphasised that the recognition of Juan Bautista Salado transcends his professional and academic career, representing "years of effort, commitment, generosity and decisions made with the common good in mind."
"There are few people I know who have dedicated so much throughout their lives to making Rincón de la Victoria better than Juanbu," stated the mayor, who recalled the honouree's involvement in the Neighbourhood Association Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, in the organisation of the Cultural Week of Benagalbón, as a steward, and as a founding member of the Cultural Association Ábrego, "a revolutionary group that turned the villages of Axarquía upside down with its plays and recitals."
For his part, Juan Bautista Salado expressed his gratitude for the recognition and stated that it represents "one of the most special moments" of his career, precisely because it comes from his hometown. "Receiving this recognition in Benagalbón, surrounded by my people, my family, friends and so many people with whom I have shared many moments throughout my life, has a very special meaning for me," he noted.
The mayor highlighted that Villa Antiopa has become "one of the great references of historical heritage" of Rincón de la Victoria, thanks to a recovery process that has brought this legacy closer to residents and visitors. He also wanted to extend the recognition to previous awardees such as Andrés García Maldonado, Toñi Domínguez, Miguel Alba, and Pedro Cantalejo.
During his speech, Salado reflected on the legacy for future generations: "In another 191 years, when someone wants to know what this Rincón de la Victoria of 2026 was like, they will probably not find all our names in the streets, but they will find our stories, they will find what we did, they will find the legacy we left."
The event was attended by the associative fabric, representatives from various administrations of the Axarquía, from several town halls, as well as from the Junta de Andalucía and the Provincial Council.
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