The city of Elda experiences an annual mirage during the five days of its Moors and Christians festival. Areas like the old town and the La Prosperidad neighborhood, usually deserted, come alive thanks to nearly 400 'cuartelillos'. These premises, mostly commercial ground floors with lowered shutters and padlocks the rest of the year, open their doors wide during the celebration, becoming the heart of the festival and a symbol of hospitality for the citizens.
However, this ephemeral vitality contrasts with the reality of the rest of the year. The number of 'cuartelillos' continues to increase, reaching 376 licensed premises for the 2025 festivals. José Miguel Tornero, president of the La Purísima Neighbors Association, points out that this proliferation has contributed to the degradation of the neighborhood, which previously had shops and is now dominated by these festive spaces. "There is no business at all. Colón Street used to have life," he laments.
The municipal ordinance approved in January 2025 aims to regulate coexistence, but both Tornero and Rubén Arroyo, lawyer for the Elda Leisure Premises Association (ALOE), believe it falls short and its application is insufficient. They report disturbances outside of the festival season, with 'cuartelillos' open until the early hours of the morning on weekends, and even illicit rentals for private events, a practice prohibited by the regulation.
Politicians such as the Councilor for Culture, Iñaki Pérez (IU - Elda Para Todas), and the secretary of the Popular Municipal Group, Miguel Ángel Rubio, acknowledge the drawbacks of the proliferation, while highlighting the contribution of the 'cuartelillos' to the festival. Rubio finds it legally complicated to limit them due to property owner freedom, while Pérez proposes studying 'stressed zones' and values the preservation of old buildings thanks to these premises.
The debate on revitalizing the old town is beginning to yield results with initiatives like the 'Elda Centro Histórico' program, which offers grants for opening new businesses. However, the question arises: "In which premises? If they are all 'cuartelillos'," questions Tornero, highlighting the pending challenge of balancing festive tradition with the city's continuous life.
