COMUNICACIÓN Y PRENSA

This extensive work in two volumes makes an excellent recent addition to the Alhambra Library. It recounts the details of the journey made at the behest of the Spanish Royal Academy of History by Luis José Velázquez, Marqués de Valdeflores. As the author himself explains in the opening chapter: "The Journey through the Antiquities of Spain was a pioneering archaeological venture inspired by the Enlightenment, and fruit of the peculiar development of Spanish science during the reign of Fernando IV and of the reformist project of the Marqués de la Ensenada"
After an interesting preliminary study of the project and its author, we move on to the previously unpublished manuscripts by the Marqués de Valdeflores: Account of the journey to Extremadura de León and the Kingdoms of Seville, Cordoba, Jaen and Granada and Memories of the Journey around Spain embarked upon by D. Luis José de Velázquez by order of the King.
The book finishes with a catalogue of drawings and maps made during the journey and an essential index section.
A fascinating insight into the 18th century and the Academies that have contributed so much to our knowledge of history.