Alicante’s MARQ Museum is preparing to host one of the most important international exhibitions in its history with the arrival of Gold and the Universe: Indigenous Knowledge from Colombia, running until May 2027.

The exhibition will bring almost 300 artefacts from Colombia’s world-famous Museo del Oro to the Costa Blanca, including more than 150 pieces crafted from gold and tumbaga. It represents one of the largest loans of Colombian gold treasures to Spain in recent decades and offers visitors a rare opportunity to view objects that seldom leave their home country.

The collection explores how pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures viewed gold not as a symbol of wealth or status, but as a spiritual material closely connected to nature, balance and the cosmos. Through the exhibition, visitors will gain an insight into the beliefs, traditions and worldviews of the communities that created these remarkable pieces centuries ago.

A Journey Through History and Living Traditions

Visitors will experience a multi-sensory journey through three galleries at MARQ, combining archaeology, anthropology, sound and storytelling. Ancient ceremonial objects, intricate jewellery, human-animal figures and traditional ritual items will be displayed alongside music recreated from flutes more than 1,000 years old.

One of the exhibition’s most distinctive features is its connection between past and present. Alongside ancient artefacts, visitors will also see contemporary works created by indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon, highlighting traditions, skills and cultural practices that continue to survive today.

Museum officials believe the exhibition will offer a deeper understanding of indigenous knowledge and its relationship with the natural world, while also providing a unique cultural experience for visitors of all ages.

Following its run in Alicante, the exhibition will travel to Santiago de Compostela before continuing to Austria, further strengthening cultural ties between Spain and Colombia and bringing this extraordinary collection to an international audience.

For more information, visit marqalicante.com.

Summer on the Costa Blanca is a season filled with sound – laughter on restaurant terraces, family visits, lively fiestas, evening markets, and long conversations by the sea. But for many people, especially over the age of 50, these enjoyable moments can gradually become harder to follow without fully realising why.

Hearing loss rarely happens suddenly. It develops slowly over time, making it surprisingly difficult to recognise it yourself. Many people simply adapt without noticing. You may find yourself asking others to repeat themselves more often, struggling to follow conversations in busy restaurants, or turning the television volume up louder than everyone else would like. Some people begin avoiding social situations altogether because listening becomes tiring and frustrating.

Life on the Costa Blanca also brings together people from many different countries and backgrounds. In one evening you may hear English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Scandinavian accents and more around a dinner table or social gathering. Even a mild hearing loss can make understanding different voices, accents, and fast- moving conversations far more challenging, particularly in busy environments with background noise. Many people assume they are simply struggling to keep up with conversations, when in reality their hearing may have changed.

The good news is that modern hearing aids are now far more advanced than many people imagine. Today’s devices are discreet, comfortable, and intelligent enough to help users hear speech more clearly in noisy environments such as cafés, restaurants, and outdoor social gatherings. Many can also connect wirelessly to mobile phones and televisions, making everyday communication easier and more enjoyable.

Most importantly, improving hearing can have a major impact on quality of life. People often report feeling more confident socially, less fatigued after conversations, and more connected with family and friends once their hearing difficulties are addressed.

Yet the first step is often the simplest: having a hearing test.

Many people are surprised to learn that a professional hearing assessment is completely free, takes around one hour, and includes a full explanation of the results with absolutely no obligation. The appointment provides valuable clarity and allows people to better understand their hearing health, whether a hearing loss is identified or not.

This summer, while enjoying everything the Costa Blanca has to offer, it may be worth asking yourself one simple question: are you hearing life as clearly as you should be?

Contact Protea Wellness Audiology

Call: 698 418 642

www.proteawellnessaudiology.es

contact@proteawellnessaudiology.es

Address: Quesada Business Centre, Calle Los Arcos 17, Ciudad Quesada, 03170

Orihuela is making it easier than ever for visitors to explore its rich history and culture, thanks to a series of new accessibility projects designed to remove barriers and improve the tourist experience.

One of the biggest additions is the installation of NaviLens technology at 50 tourist sites across Orihuela and Orihuela Costa. Using a smartphone, visitors can scan special codes to access information about monuments, museums and historic landmarks.

Unlike traditional QR codes, NaviLens can be detected from up to 15 metres away and without needing to point a camera directly at the code. The system is particularly useful for visually impaired visitors and can provide information in up to 36 languages, automatically adapting to the language settings on a user’s device.

The free NaviLens and NaviLens GO apps also offer multimedia content, simplified text and a range of accessibility features designed to make cultural information available to as many people as possible.

Alongside the digital improvements, Orihuela has installed 16 new information totems at some of its most important heritage sites, including the Cathedral, the Miguel Hernández House Museum, the Episcopal Palace, Teatro Circo and the famous San Isidro murals.

Each totem includes tactile relief elements that allow visually impaired visitors to explore architectural details through touch, creating a more inclusive way of discovering the city’s history and architectural heritage.

The projects form part of wider efforts to modernise Orihuela’s tourism offering while preserving and promoting the area’s cultural attractions for future generations.

Scooter Rollout Hits Turbulence

While Orihuela is receiving praise for improving accessibility, another recent initiative has faced a far more challenging start.

Electric scooter rentals have finally arrived in Orihuela Costa under the town hall’s new single-operator system, but the launch is already surrounded by controversy.

The service was originally expected to begin in December, with the full fleet deployed by January. However, the scooters only started appearing recently, around five months behind schedule.

According to the concession contract, delays of this type could qualify as a very serious breach, potentially leading to penalties or even cancellation of the agreement.

One of the main concerns involves the scooters themselves. Industry sources claim some of the vehicles currently operating in Orihuela Costa carry certification plates linked to international operator Bolt rather than Vamoz. Bolt, which also participated in the original tender process, is reportedly considering legal action.

There are also questions over whether the deployed fleet matches the specifications originally presented during the bidding process, including requirements relating to vehicle age and model type.

Municipal sources have attributed part of the delay to recent changes in DGT regulations concerning insurance and civil liability requirements for electric scooters.

Despite the controversy, the service was introduced to improve mobility in Orihuela Costa, where residents and tourists often rely on alternative forms of transport because of dispersed urbanisations and limited public transport connections.

How the situation develops in the coming weeks could prove significant, both for the operator and for local residents who have long called for better transport options across the coastal area.