Geography, Travels and Journalism in Franco’s Spain: Valeriano Salas and the Revista Geográfica Española

Abstract

The history of geographic journalism in Spain has been scarcely studied. This article deals with the life and work of a significant, interesting figure in that field: Valeriano Salas-Rodríguez (1898-1962). A member of a well-to-do family, Salas spent a good part of his personal wealth travelling throughtout the world and, in 1938, founded the Revista Geográfica Española, which he edited until his death. Following the model of the National Geographic Magazine, the Revista Geográfica Española was conceived of as an illustrated, non-academic journal of art, history and travel addressed to an educated Spanish-speaking public. After pointing out some introductory remarks on the relationships between travel journalism and geography and, more generally, on the traditionally neglected history of “popular geographies”, this paper examines, firstly, Salas’s main biographical landmarks; secondly, his conception of travel and geography; and finally, the aims, general features and main thematic axis of the Revista Geográfica Española. The work of Salas as founder and head of the Archivo Fotográfico Hispánico will be also considered in the final section of the article.