Following Polish Women in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

For a long time travelling was a men's domain. It was them who went to foreign countries, to universities and to wars. A lot of time had to pass before women appeared on the roads. The first of them set out on journeys in the 18^th century.

However, the Iberian Peninsula was not one of the most frequently chosen destinations then. The trail blazed by Władysław II the Exile's daughter, Richeza, until the second half of the 19^th century was very rarely taken by Polish women. The information about another one who had crossed the Pyrenees comes only from the 18^th century. It was then that Konstancja Sanguszkowa supposedly went to the grave of St James in Santiago de Compostela. The next century, and especially its second half, as well as the first decade of the 20^th century, were characterized by a considerable increase in the number of Polish women travelling through the Pyrenees.

There were a variety of motives for the journey, as well as for the stay in Spain itself. Some women set out looking for inspiration and fame. At the Iberian Peninsula they achieved spectacular successes, they sang and acted in the most famous operas as well as at the royal court. Józefina Reszke may be mentioned here, an outstanding opera singer, who had an overwhelming career there. Others, very similar to contemporary tourists, first of all looked for a hot sun, blue skies, beautiful views, Arabian souvenirs, Spanish religiousness, exoticism and romanticism. There were also ones for whom Spain was a refuge during the war. One cannot also help mentioning women working on bringing the two countries together. Sofia Casanova y Lutosławski and Gabriela Makowiecka rendered special services in this field. Each of the travelers visiting Spain left their trails; however, only some of the trails have lasted until modern times.