Santa Pola’s Museo del Mar is heading towards a record-breaking year after welcoming 133,145 visits so far in 2026. The figure is already closing in on the almost 150,000 visits recorded throughout the whole of last year, with the museum’s network of historic and cultural attractions continuing to draw visitors to the coastal town.

Museo del Mar approaches annual visitor record

Santa Pola’s Museo del Mar is heading towards a record year after attracting 133,145 visits so far in 2026, already approaching the almost 150,000 recorded during the whole of last year.

The museum complex includes its main exhibitions inside the Castillo Fortaleza, covering the history and ethnography of the sea and fishing, music, archaeology and local history.

The castle also hosts a changing programme of national and international art exhibitions, adding to the range of attractions available within the historic building.

Museum network extends beyond Castillo Fortaleza

Several external sites form part of the museum, including the Mediterranean Aquarium, the preserved Esteban Gonzalez fishing boat and Portus Ilicitanus, the Roman port which operates as an open-air museum.

Visits remain free, including guided activities, workshops, concerts and talks.

The combination of permanent exhibitions, archaeological attractions and cultural activities means the Museo del Mar extends well beyond a traditional museum building, with different sites exploring Santa Pola’s history and its close relationship with the Mediterranean.

Aquarium and fishing boat closed for improvements

Two attractions are currently temporarily closed. The Aquarium is undergoing improvements and new museum installations, while the Esteban Gonzalez is receiving major restoration work to its hull.

Both are expected to reopen in December.

Portus Ilicitanus has also experienced temporary closures during archaeological excavations and work to install a protective shaded structure over part of the remains.

La Picola will join museum network in 2027

The museum network is set to expand again in 2027 with the addition of the La Picola archaeological site.

The Iberian and Roman site is being prepared for visitors through a €1.25 million project fully funded by Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Its addition will give visitors another archaeological attraction to explore as part of Santa Pola’s growing museum network, while the strong visitor figures recorded during 2026 put the Museo del Mar within reach of surpassing last year’s total.

Emergency services launched a major search operation in north-eastern Spain after a woman reportedly fell into a rain-swollen stream during torrential downpours, prompting fears she may have been swept away by the powerful current.

The incident happened in Cabrera de Mar, in Barcelona province, on Saturday evening, October 17, as heavy rainfall affected parts of Catalonia.

Firefighters from the Bombers de la Generalitat were mobilised after receiving an emergency alert at 7.41pm reporting that a person had fallen into a riera, a normally smaller watercourse that can become dangerously fast-flowing during periods of intense rain.

Six firefighting units were initially deployed to search for the missing woman, with the operation involving Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and Spain’s Maritime Rescue service.

The search was continuing in the latest reports, with no confirmed outcome available at the time of publication.

Emergency teams continue to search for missing woman

The operation brought together several emergency services to locate the woman following the reported fall.

The firefighters confirmed the deployment in a post on social media, announcing that crews were working alongside the Mossos d’Esquadra and Salvamento Marítimo.

The involvement of maritime rescue teams highlights the potential danger posed by fast-moving watercourses during severe weather, particularly where a stream flows towards the coast.

The incident occurred in the Maresme area, a coastal region north-east of Barcelona that experienced particularly heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Vallès Oriental area was also among the parts of Catalonia that recorded significant precipitation during the same period.

Firefighters confirmed on Sunday morning, October 18, that the search had continued throughout the night and into the early hours, but there had been no new developments.

Heavy rain raises concerns across Catalonia

The search operation unfolded as thunderstorms and intense rainfall affected several areas of Catalonia, raising concerns about sudden flooding and dangerous conditions near waterways.

A riera can appear relatively harmless during dry weather but may fill rapidly when heavy rain falls, creating strong currents capable of carrying away people and vehicles.

Such watercourses are a particular hazard during Mediterranean storms, when intense rainfall can fall over a short period and cause water levels to rise quickly. Emergency authorities have repeatedly warned residents to avoid attempting to cross flooded streams, rivers and underpasses during periods of heavy rain. Even shallow-looking water can conceal a strong current, while the depth and speed of the flow may change rapidly as further rain arrives upstream.

Search comes amid severe weather

The incident adds to concerns about the impact of the unsettled weather affecting north-eastern Spain.

The Maresme, where Cabrera de Mar is located, was among the areas experiencing the heaviest rainfall on Saturday, according to reports. Emergency crews faced the challenge of searching in conditions made more difficult by the weather and the possibility of fast-moving water.

Forget the usual police dogs and ceremonial horses. Spain’s Guardia Civil has a rather more unusual character representing one of its specialist units: a wild boar called Iratxo, described by the force as “as faithful as he is imposing”. The Guardia Civil recently introduced Iratxo on social media, sharing a photograph of the animal standing on his hind legs beside a uniformed officer.

The force says he can be a little stubborn, but adapts to any terrain and always moves forward with a firm step. Iratxo is associated with the Unidad de Acción Rural (UAR), or Rural Action Unit, which coordinates specialist units including the Grupo de Acción Rápida (GAR), or Rapid Action Group. The GAR carries out counter-terrorism work and high-risk operations requiring a rapid response.

Why does Spain’s Guardia Civil have a wild boar?

The unusual mascot is part of a tradition that stretches back more than four decades. The Guardia Civil’s association with wild boars began in 1981, coinciding with the first anniversary of the GAR’s territorial deployment. Several animals have represented the unit since then, including Itza and Basati, who appeared at public events and military-style parades. Basati, whose name means “wild” in Basque, was among the previous mascots. In 2024, he appeared during celebrations marking Spain’s National Day in the Intxaurrondo neighbourhood of San Sebastián.

The choice of a wild boar is more than a quirky tradition. Its imposing appearance, toughness and ability to adapt to different environments make it a fitting emblem for a unit associated with demanding operations. Iratxo’s name adds another layer of meaning. In Basque mythology, an iratxo is a mischievous spirit or goblin, not necessarily evil, sometimes associated with acting as a guardian or justiciar and of course it is a perfect name for a mascot that combines a formidable appearance with a folkloric identity.

Pigs are far cleverer than many people realise

Wild boars and domestic pigs belong to the same species, Sus scrofa, and pigs have demonstrated impressive learning and cognitive abilities in scientific studies. Research has found that pigs can learn to navigate tasks, remember information and adapt their behaviour when circumstances change. Studies have also examined their social cognition, including how early social experiences can influence later social skills.

Their intelligence is not just about remembering where food is kept. Pigs can learn to associate particular cues with rewards, distinguish between familiar individuals and develop strategies for solving problems. Their ability to learn from experience has made them an interesting subject for animal cognition research.

That intelligence also makes pigs capable of learning through training. With consistent, reward-based methods, they can learn routines, respond to cues and work out how to complete tasks. Food rewards can be particularly useful when teaching new behaviours, while repetition and consistency help reinforce what they have learnt. However, intelligence does not automatically make every pig easy to handle. Individual temperament, previous experiences and the environment all matter. Wild boars also retain behaviours and instincts that can make them much more challenging to manage safely than domestic pigs.

A mascot with a long-standing role

While the Guardia Civil uses specially trained dogs for tasks such as detecting drugs and employs horses for particular duties, Iratxo represents the UAR in a different way. He is part of the unit’s identity and traditions, connecting its modern work with a history of wild boar mascots that stretches back to the early 1980s. The animals have become recognisable symbols associated with the unit and its public appearances.

For a force known for its serious operational responsibilities, Iratxo offers a more unexpected public face. The mascot gives the unit a distinctive character beyond its equipment, uniforms and specialist operations, while reflecting qualities such as resilience, determination and adaptability. And while the wild boar may seem an unlikely choice, the combination of strength, intelligence and a name rooted in Basque folklore makes Iratxo a memorable representative of one of Spain’s specialist Guardia Civil units.