Published 15 September 2026 | Events

TL;DR: Vícar has joined a new initiative to create Spain’s first municipal school dedicated to trovo, the traditional improvised poetry of La Alpujarra , in collaboration with the University of Granada.

First Municipal Trovo School in Vícar

Historic Step for Trovo Tradition

The town of Vícar has taken a significant cultural leap by signing a pact to establish the Ibero-American Chair of Trovo and Improvised Oral Poetry at the University of Granada. This agreement officially marks the start of efforts in Vícar to found the country’s very first municipal school dedicated to trovo—the poetic tradition native to La Alpujarra mountains and surrounding areas. Alongside the nearby Alpujarran town of Cádiar in Granada province, Vícar aims to safeguard and nurture this endangered art form.

Deep Roots and Local Commitment

For Vícar’s mayor, Antonio Bonilla, the connection to trovo runs personal and deep. A native of the Contraviesa area in La Alpujarra, Bonilla recalls formative memories of meeting the revered trovo master Miguel García Candiota as a child, an encounter that cemented his passion for this cultural heritage. The municipality has a large number of residents with Alpujarran roots, which has fostered a local commitment to preserving and promoting the tradition beyond its original mountain villages. Bonilla sees the school as a vital way to carry trovo forward, ensuring it remains alive in community life and is passed on to future generations.

Collaboration Across Regions

This initiative is the fruit of decades of work uniting various stakeholders, including the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Alpujarra de la Sierra and the provincial governments of Almería and Granada. By formalizing the Chair with the University of Granada and collaborating with the Asociación Cultural Abuxarra, the project gains academic backing to study and disseminate trovo and oral improvisation. The school will initially launch with two centers—in Vícar and Cádiar—capitalizing on existing local experience with trovo activities.

Plans for Growth and Preservation

Vícar’s city council has earmarked an annual budget of €10,000 to support the new school. The vision is to grow this network of trovo schools over the next couple of years, potentially establishing four to five schools across the provinces of Granada and Almería. This expansion depends on interest from participants and municipalities alike. The goal is clear: to maintain the flame of this poetic tradition, keeping it vibrant within local culture and recognized as a universal form of expression.

A Living Tradition for Today’s Alpujarra

Trovo is more than just poetry; it’s a living dialog, an improvisational art that reflects the heart and history of La Alpujarra’s communities. The new school in Vícar promises to be a dynamic space where locals and visitors can engage with this heritage firsthand, celebrating a form of creativity that has survived for centuries. With this initiative, Vícar not only honors its Alpujarran roots but also ensures that trovo continues to resonate in everyday life, keeping an ancient voice alive for future storytellers and listeners.

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