On Sunday, December 15, 2024, the Castle of Santa Pola on the Costa Blanca turned into a place for a unique meeting of cultures that will long be remembered by the participants. As part of the opening ceremony and the announcement of the winners of the "Pole on the Costa Blanca" contest, Polish-Spanish stories intermingled, creating a unique atmosphere of togetherness and mutual understanding.

This event was not just a photo contest - it became a symbol of international friendship and cooperation. Thanks to the efforts of the organizers, the Hispola Association and the HumanDoc Foundation, Poles gathered in large numbers to admire art and find the common values that unite Poland and Spain.

The evening's guests of honor were representatives of the Polish Consulate in Barcelona, including Head Consul Ilona Koldonska, whose presence underscored the importance of the event for the Polish community on the Costa Blanca.

The culminating moment was the announcement of the winners and the presentation of prizes to the winners of the first three places.

At the heart of the event were the works of the finalists of the photo contest, which show the beauty of the Costa Blanca region with a Polish accent. The ingenuity and diversity of the works make this exhibition particularly interesting. Twenty of the best photos, printed and elegantly framed, were ceremoniously presented at the opening of the exhibition. The photographs can now be admired in the spaces of the Santa Pola Castle, where they will be available to the public for the next few weeks.

The event ended with a symbolic treat that combined the culinary traditions of both nations. The tables were filled with Spanish snacks, and aromatic mulled wine reminded the audience of Polish flavors. As a result, participants were able not only to admire art, but also to literally \"taste\" multiculturalism.

The whole event took place in a warm, cordial atmosphere. The organizers took care of every detail: from welcoming guests, to inspiring speeches, to a carefully prepared artistic setting. The event at the Santa Pola Castle was an excellent example of how cooperation and involvement of local communities can build bridges between nations.

During her speech, the organizer of the event, Agnieszka Juniewicz, expressed her sincere thanks to Maria José Cerdá, director of the Museo del Mar, for providing the exhibition space, and to the Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola for its organizational support. She stressed that without their commitment and openness to cooperation, the realization of such a unique project would not have been possible.

We invite everyone who has not yet had the opportunity to see the exhibition to visit the Santa Pola Castle and experience the magic of this unique project. The exhibition will be open until January 15, 2025. This is more than a competition or an exhibition - it is living proof that diversity enriches, and that shared passions can unite even the most distant cultures.

Event carried out as part of the project entitled Polska Costa - Polish events on the southern coast of Spain, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in the competition "Polonia and Poles abroad 2024 - Polish events and initiatives".