New book celebrates fifty years of friendship between Xàbia and Thiviers

A new book has been published which celebrates half a century of friendship between Xàbia and the French town of Thiviers and this week a special presentation took place at the Casa de la Cultura to announce a publication filled with memories, traditions and emotions, an evening attended by mayor Rosa Cardona and the last four former mayors of the town, José Chulvi, Eduardo Monfort, Juan Moragues and Jaime Sapena, a gesture that symbolizes the continuity of this close relationship between both municipalities. Also in attendance was the councillor responsible for Culture, Mavi Pérez (CpJ), Fina Doménech, president of the Amics de Thiviers association and Thierry Timonet, president of Les Amis de Xàbia.

The presentation evening opened with traditional music and dancing performed by the Grup de Danses del Portitxol before Pepa Chorro, one of the first students to participate in school exchanges that developed into the twinning of the two towns in the early 1970s, also shared her experiences, transporting the audience to a time when crossing the border into France seemed quite a great adventure.

Among the most touching anecdotes was the safe-conduct decree that the mayor signed in the 70s to allow the passage of four jugs of mistela destined for the friends in Thiviers. In addition, a video shot by the Doménech family was screened which featured previously unpublished images of those first exchanges.

The book, put together by Fina Doménech, compiles all their experiences and pays tribute to those people like Esperanza Salvatierra, the first president of Amics de Thiviers, who gave their all to keep the friendship alive. She passed in 2022 and was remembered with special affection, highlighting her passion for theatre and her legacy in the friendship with Thiviers.

Thierry Timonet then handed mayor Rosa Cardona an invitation from Isabelle Hyvoz, her counterpart in Thiviers, to attend the presentation of the book in France, thus strengthening the continuity of the cultural and social bond, before Mavi Pérez congratulated the association for their work carried out with the publication of the book.