CIARGA

CIARGA has become the centre of reference for the aviation and the Spanish civil war in Catalonia.

CIARGA (Interpretation Centre of the Republican Aviation and the Air War) is a unique and reference museographic facility related to aviation and the Spanish civil war that is located in Santa Margarida and els Monjos in the Serral space within the republican airfield of els Monjos and which was part of the Vesper de la Gloriosa.

The project of the Interpretation Centre of the Republican Aviation and the Air War was elaborated by DIDPATRI of the University of Barcelona, with the collaboration of the Penedès Territorial Research Station – Penedès Studies Institute, of the Santa Margarida and els Monjos town hall, and the Republican Aviators Society. And for its development, it has the support of the General Directorate of the Democratic Memory of the Department of the Interior, Institutional Relations and Participation of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

First reference

CIARGA is the first reference dedicated to explain the history of the republican aviation in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), showing the development of the aviation during the war; the important foreign intervention on both sides; the air war in the front and in the rear, that is to say, those events that are specific and significant in the context of the Civil War and aviation in Catalonia in the context of the construction and operation of military airfields.

Likewise, it shows the local content around the existence of the Monjos airfield, used by the republican squadrons in the context of the Vesper de la Gloriosa airfield network, integrated by the Pacs airfields, Sabanell and Santa Oliva: how a republican airfield was built, which planes were stationed there, the assembly and repair workshops, the aviators, the mechanics, gunners and other personnel who were part of the rolling stock of the squadrons…

All this is shown thanks to the creation of a didactic and comprehensive museography, which combines scenographies and original pieces with powerful multimedia resources. Thus, the project will count on the creation of a replica of one of the most representative republican planes of the entire war, protagonist in 1938 and 1939 of the aerial actions on the Ebre from the Penedès airfields: The Polikarpov I-15 Xato and also the creation of an important audiovisual, among other resources.

Itineraries

CIARGA is complemented with itineraries aviation heritage sites during the Spanish Civil War in the Penedès: airfields, military and civil shelters, workshops and other related constructions. As well as with the Center for research and documentation on aviation and the civil war located in the Monjos library. In the context of its creation, it also has an important educational program with teaching materials for schools. In the context of its creation, it also has an important educational program with teaching materials for schools.