Antonio López Hurtado, known as ‘Zárate’, will be honored by the municipality of Moralzarzal. The Local Government Board approved on June 4 the expediente to name the Pradera Antonio Zárate, covering the urban gardens and the adjacent Vía Berrocal street. This recognition is for this resident's dedication of his time and talent to researching and protecting local history after his retirement.
‘Zárate’, born in Madrid in 1943, is a Telecommunications Engineer. After an extensive professional career, he has spent decades conducting meticulous research into the municipality's roots. Municipal sources highlight his innate curiosity and deep respect for the past, which have led him to compile a legacy of traditional trades, local customs, historical heritage, and the surrounding fauna and flora.
A significant portion of this archive is available on his website, www.conocermoralzarzal.es, and his work has also materialized in various publications. Notable works include titles such as Moralzarzal, Crónicas del agua, Recursos Patrimoniales de Moralzarzal, El Mundo Rural en Moralzarzal, La Enseñanza en Moralzarzal, along with nearly a dozen books focusing on old trades like livestock farming, local commerce, stonemasonry, and toponymy.
The City Council emphasizes that Antonio tirelessly continues his research and writing, aiming to preserve collective memory and pay tribute to Moralzarzal, considering him an indispensable figure for future generations.
“"A great green corner of our municipality that, from now on, will proudly bear the name of the great guardian of our memory."
The initiative to dedicate a space to Antonio López gained momentum on October 6, during the presentation of his book El Mundo Rural en Moralzarzal, when the mayor, José Mª Moreno, expressed the government team's intention. The recognition was recently solidified during the presentation of La Enseñanza en Moralzarzal, when, at the mayor's request and following a suggestion from an attendee, Antonio himself emotionally commented on the chosen location, the Pradera Antonio Zárate, receiving a unanimous ovation.
