El haz y el envés de la ciudad liberal burguesa. El ejemplo de Pontevedra

Abstract

Throughout the 19th century, the yearning for modernisation and the liberal myth of progress led to major changes in our cities, changes that sought to make them the most faithful reflection of development. On many occasions, however, these programmes of renewal involved the destruction of streets, neighbourhoods and buildings that were associated with the feudal society and regarded as obstacles to the aesthetic improvement and expansion of cities. In many cases, the lack of historical documentation on much of this lost heritage, coupled with the lack of awareness of its existence, dictate that other sources must be researched, most notably urban iconography. This article therefore seeks to demonstrate the usefulness of this material in study the programme of renewal in Pontevedra, one of the most important cities in Galicia during the age of liberalism, a time when it took on a new appearance befitting its status as a provincial capital.