The city of Soria held a large tribute to Antonio Machado this Sunday to mark the 93rd anniversary of his being named an adopted son . The event took place next to the hermitage of San Saturio, after the patron saint's mass, in a setting steeped in symbolism for the poet and for the city's cultural heritage.
With a large turnout from the community, the tribute recreated the scene from 1932 in which Soria thanked Machado for his literary and human legacy: a reading of his journalistic piece from that time, official speeches, and live music. The atmosphere was understated and intimate, more evocative than grand, as befitted an event that Machado himself would have recognized as simple.
A tribute with historical roots
The designation of Antonio Machado as an adopted son of Soria was promoted in 1932 by the City Council and supported by the Ateneo of Soria and the Provincial Council. That summer, the then mayor, Antonio Rollo, invited the poet to participate in the recognition, which was brought before the full council on July 16 and approved by acclamation, with the idea of making it a civic tribute.
In that context, the so-called Poet's Corner , next to the Duero River, was marked with a bronze plaque commemorating the city's gesture towards the author of Campos de Castilla . That first commemorative piece disappeared with time and the war, but its memory remained alive in local tradition and in the accounts of the period.
To prepare the current reenactment, the organizers consulted newspaper archives and other sources: they consulted the Provincial Historical Archive of Soria and the book "El Ateneo de Soria" by Professor and writer Juan Antonio Gómez Barrera, which provides key information on how the original event was organized and the role played by institutions and citizens.
Today's event: readings, music, and a city centered around Machado
Following the pilgrimage and the Eucharist at San Saturio, the program included a complete reading of the text Machado published after his appointment, in a carefully crafted performance in which the actor Antonio Calleja gave voice to the author. The passage captured the poet's intimate perspective on Soria and its landscape, and his gratitude for what the city meant to him and his writing.
The speech evoked an essential, austere, and poetic Soria, the city that Machado transformed into literary material and a source of moral learning. With language deeply rooted in the Castilian land, the poet defined Soria as a place that teaches humanism, democracy, and dignity , and where the wellspring of his verses took root.
During the official address, the mayor of Soria, Carlos Martínez , emphasized the enduring relevance of Machado's thought: the defense of life as the cornerstone of the nation, the idea that there is no freedom without peace and justice, and the necessity of a democracy imbued with humanity. He also pointed to current situations of suffering, from Ukraine to Gaza, as a reminder of why it is important to return to Machado's words to guide our perspective and public debate.
The music was provided by the Municipal Band , which closed the event with a triumphant march. Earlier, attendees had recreated the 1932 photograph, a “family photo” on the banks of the Duero River, intended as a collective testament to the continuity and affection for the poet and his work.
The day also included a tangible gesture: the replacement of a commemorative plaque in the Poet's Corner, which now includes a reference to the 150th anniversary of Machado's birth. The city council and the cultural community intend for this event to become an annual tradition, a way for Soria to renew its connection with the man who, through his verses, projected the city far beyond its borders.
The tribute brought together historical memory, public reading, and civic engagement, with broad participation and a peaceful atmosphere. Between the hermitage of San Saturio and the waters of the Duero River, Soria once again looked to Machado from the present, confirming that his legacy remains a living word and an ethical compass for the city.
