Podcast Summary: Acontece que no es poco | El heroico farero de Torre del Mar… que nunca existió

Podcast: Todo Concostrina
Host: Nieves Concostrina (SER Podcast)
Episode Air Date: February 5, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode critically examines the widely-circulated story of the supposed “heroic lighthouse keeper of Torre del Mar” during "La Desbandá"—the 1937 mass exodus of civilians fleeing from advancing Francoist forces in Andalucía. Host Nieves Concostrina and her team unravel how the myth of Anselmo Vilar, the self-sacrificing lighthouse keeper who allegedly saved lives by turning off the lighthouse during the massacre, is in fact a fabricated legend. The episode underscores the importance of rigorous historical research and cautions against confirmation bias and the viral spread of unverified accounts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: La Desbandá and Its Memory

• La Desbandá refers to the horrific nine-day flight in February 1937 of thousands of Andalusian civilians, bombed relentlessly by Franco’s troops from land, sea, and air.
• The episode connects this history with the annual commemorative march that retraces the exodus (“la décima marcha de la desbandá”), beginning on the date of the podcast’s broadcast.

“Una media de 370 personas van a estar en cada etapa recorriendo a pie los mismos 220 kilómetros... huyendo de los asesinatos que estaban cometiendo los franquistas.”
  — Nieves (01:08)

2. The False Legend of the Torre del Mar Lighthouse Keeper

• Myth Summary: The widely-shared tale claimed a Galician keeper named Anselmo Vilar turned off the lighthouse at Torre del Mar on February 6 and 7, 1937 to protect fleeing civilians from naval bombardment, for which he was allegedly executed.
• Debunking: Nieves outlines how this captivating story, including published photos, originated from rumor and repetition rather than evidence. It exemplifies “confirmation bias,” where people accept “facts” that fit their beliefs and ignore contrary data.

“Esto que hemos hecho algunos se llama sesgo de confirmación… es buen momento para rectificar y aclaremos que el farero de Torre del Mar no existió, no apagó el faro, no se llamaba Anselmo, no era gallego y no fue fusilado.”
  — Nieves (03:44)

3. Investigative Work and Historical Method

• Researchers Manuel Lloret Corpas and José María Azuaga (experts in democratic memory) traced the actual records for the Torre del Mar lighthouse and established the following:
  • No record of Anselmo Vilar or any such “hero” keeper exists.
  • The real keeper at the time was Miguel Pérez Ruiz, who was assigned to the Torrox lighthouse but performed maintenance at Torre del Mar.
  • The lighthouse was fully automated—no daily lighthouse keeper or on-site family resided there.

“El farero responsable desde 1935 se llamaba Miguel Pérez Ruiz y el faro de Torre del Mar era automático.... No había farero físico, no había una familia.”
  — Nieves (07:49)

Research Obstacles

• Initial obstruction and denial from the Málaga Port Authority delayed the investigation.
• Only after intervention from Spain’s Ombudsman did researchers gain access to 309 digitized documents about the lighthouse from 1911–1946.

“La documentación sobre los faros de la provincia de Málaga está digitalizada desde 2020. Alguien... prefirió inventarse que no había información antes que facilitarla.”
  — Nieves (06:28)

4. What Actually Happened to the Lighthouse?

• The actual evidence:
  • The lighthouse was switched off on January 15, 1937 by order of the Republican governor of Málaga, not by any individual act of resistance.
  • It remained off during the critical period (including the dates of the massacre) and was only relit on February 24, after the fascists had taken Málaga.
  • All actions regarding the lighthouse were recorded in official reports—no indication of individual rebellion, no mysterious disappearance, and no execution of “Anselmo Vilar.”

“Desde aquel 15 de enero de 1937... los dos faros permanecieron apagados. Los dos. Y que no fue hasta el 24 de febrero... cuando ahora sí, con los golpistas ya fusilando... el farero Miguel Pérez volvió a asumir sus funciones.”
  — Nieves (09:52)

5. Consequences and Lessons

• Disinformation: The fable grew, unchallenged, across media and public memory, even entering some official commemorations.
• Call for Correction: Nieves insists that all media and institutions previously publishing or citing this myth should correct the record and append the public evidence.

“No es en absoluto necesario añadir historias románticas a una masacre de ciudadanos andaluces a manos de militares asesinos españoles.”
  — Nieves (11:37)

6. Current Commemorations and Political Context

• March’s Challenges: Right-wing and far-right local governments along the route often obstruct the march’s passage, reflecting continued resistance to confronting Spain's traumatic historical memory.
• Historical Quotes & Reflection: Nieves closes with a chilling quote from Francoist commander Queipo de Llano, highlighting the brutality of past—and current—denials.

“Hay que perseguir a los rojos como a fieras hasta hacerlos desaparecer a todos…”
  — Queipo de Llano, cited by Nieves (12:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Myth-Busting with Clarity:
  “No existió, no existió. Y no lo decimos nosotros, evidentemente. Lo dicen las conclusiones de un concienzudo informe final muy documentado...”
  — Nieves (03:09)

• Explaining Confirmation Bias:
  “Esto que hemos hecho algunos se llama sesgo de confirmación, que es esa tendencia a buscar, interpretar y favorecer información que confirma nuestras creencias preexistentes...”
  — Nieves (03:44)

• Highlighting the Real Heroism:
  “La matanza de civiles por los franquistas está más que probada y acreditada, pero lo del farero no.”
  — Nieves (06:08)

• About Political Obstruction:
  “Vamos a ver qué se inventan este año los municipios ultraderechistas para poner zancadillas en el recorrido de la marcha....”
  — Nieves (12:05)

Key Timestamps

• [01:04] – La Desbandá’s anniversary and historical context
• [03:09] – The myth of Anselmo Vilar and its debunking
• [06:03] – The alleged actions of the lighthouse keeper
• [07:49] – Actual historical research findings
• [09:52] – When and why the lighthouse was actually turned off
• [11:37] – Broader reflections on Spanish memory and myth-making
• [12:27] – Reading of a brutal quote by Queipo de Llano
• [13:56] – Poetic interlude honoring the memory of the exodus

Concluding Reflection

This episode stands as a meticulous historical correction—and a call to responsibility for journalists, institutions, and society at large. Nieves Concostrina urges us to honor real suffering and courage, rather than embroidering tragedy with enticing yet false legends. As Spain continues to wrestle with its collective memory, the episode reminds listeners that truth and honesty in historical storytelling are acts of respect for the past and its victims.