Casa del Cable, from telegraph station to exhibition hall: history and schedule

The Casa del Cable Exhibition Hall is one of the outstanding buildings in the municipality of Xàbia. Located in the fishing district, and on the seafront, it currently houses temporary and traveling exhibitions, but its facilities have a long history.

Access to the second floor of the Exhibition Hall

History

In the mid-XNUMXth century, the urban landscape of the Aduanas de la Mar neighborhood was defined by the raisin warehouses and the humble fishermen houses that had been built. It is at that time when the establishment and development of the telegraph network began with the first installations of submarine cables.

It was in 1860 when the wiring works began to communicate the Balearic Islands with the peninsula and it was the moment when he built the building known as La Casa del Cable to house the telegraph station that linked the Peninsula with Ibiza by means of a submarine cable (113 km), due to the proximity of Xàbia with Ibiza and the suitability of its bay.

The Cable House in the 90s

Towards 1870, the wiring between Xàbia-Sant Josep de Sa Talaia (Ibiza) and Barcelona-Maó was repaired, which broke down with some frequency until it finally stopped working in the XNUMXs.

The importance of the station as a telegraphic link with the islands made it necessary for military detachments to be installed on various occasions in order to guarantee telegraphic communication.

The original structure of the building had a square plan, just over 9 meters on each side, with two floors and a pitched roof. Subsequently, several reforms were made and the four rough columns that support the terrace were added to form the naia that is still preserved and makes the house so unique.

The new construction preserved the pillars of tosca

The telegraph office was located on the ground floor, while the upper floor was occupied by rooms and a service room. Attached to the south side of the house, other dependencies were located with only one floor and gabled roof, which would serve as warehouses and other auxiliary domestic spaces.

Original telecommunication table that was in the old Cable House

Oratory of the fishing district

But also, the Cable House was, between the last quarter of the XNUMXth century and during the first decade of the XNUMXth, the oratory or chapel that gave religious service to the fishing district and where the image of Our Lady of Loreto was kept.

After its remodeling, the building becomes a Municipal Exhibition Hall, maintaining its original rough pillars, thus becoming one of the most unique rooms and demanded by artists to exhibit their works.

Ground floor or First floor of the Casa del Cable showroom

Hours, contact and location

The Casa del Cable is located on Avenida Marina Española, in the port of Xàbia. Its contact telephone number is 96 579 65 31 and information on the traveling exhibitions it hosts each month can be followed at: http://artxabia.com/site/salas/

Regarding visiting hours:

October to May, from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m. and from 17:00 p.m. to 20:00 p.m. Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m.

June and September, from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. and from 18:00 p.m. to 21:00 p.m. Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m.

From July to August, from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m. and from 19:00 p.m. to 23:00 p.m. Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 13:30 p.m.

Entrance to the Casa del Cable Exhibition Hall

Image gallery