Torremolinos inaugurates a climate shelter in Antonio Abril square

The Antonio Abril Square in Toledo has been inaugurated after its remodeling, aimed not only at improving the aesthetics of the area, but also at incorporating features designed to make it a climate refuge for residents and tourists alike. The opening ceremony was attended by members of the Municipal Corporation, relatives of the honoree, including his daughter Adelina Abril, and representatives from Emaús and Miramar School, among others, due to Abril's connections with both the organization and the school. "We are inaugurating a square that has been remodeled, but we are doing much more than that. We have created a new space, much friendlier, with more shade and cooler. What is now called a climate refuge. A place to stop during a walk in the center of our beloved municipality," explained Mayor Margarita del Cid.

"We pay tribute to a part of the city's history. Because that is Antonio Abril, the history of Torremolinos in capital letters. Antonio had so many ties to Torremolinos that the only thing he lacked was being born here instead of in the Trinidad neighborhood, where his family lived and where he took his first steps in a home where he was the eldest of five siblings," detailed Del Cid.

Antonio Abril de Toledo, born in Málaga, studied teaching, and in 1966 began to run the bar La Gamba Alegre in Torremolinos with his brother, where he moved with his wife and his daughter, who was then just a few months old.

His connection to education led him to found the Miramar School that autumn. He was also an active member of the Junta Pro-Autonomy of Torremolinos, which eventually led to the segregation from Málaga.

Antonio Abril's social concern led him in 1997 to also establish the Emaús Social Dining Room in Torremolinos, initially to provide food to the elderly, and later to anyone in need.

In September 2019, due to a fall, he suffered a brain concussion which he did not recover from, passing away on November 14.

The mayor highlighted his legacy as a restaurateur, educator, and as a person committed to his city and to the needy. "The best part of this square is not just how beautiful it looks, but the beautiful name it will carry from now on. Because Antonio Abril always carried Torremolinos in his heart; and from today Torremolinos also carries him in its heart, with this square that will help us remember him as he deserves."

The project is subsidized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, within the aid for strengthening commercial activity in Touristic Zones, co-financed by NextGeneration EU funds, as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan.