La Baltasara:
a recluse actress

La Baltasara estate in Alhaurín el Grande owes its name to Gala. Because Antonio Gala baptised this breathtaking place as a tribute to a Spanish actress from the Golden Age: Francisca Baltasara.

But, as he says, it was all due to a succession of coincidences. “I’d misunderstood that the estate belonged to the Baltasaro family, descendants of a good witch who used to live there in the 18th century. When I went to sign the deed, the notary public read out: “El Naranjal, hereafter, La Baltasara...” “What do you mean hereafter, La Baltasara?” “Well, you gave it that name. It was always called El Naranjal because it was the first orange orchard in Alhaurín el Grande” I was absolutely flabbergasted...”

Born in Madrid under the rule of Phillip III, she came to shine as an actress in Phillip IV’s court. Francisca Baltasara worked in the theatre company owned by an actor called Heredia. She was stunning and was the object of desire and songs in her time: “Todo lo tiene bueno La Baltasara. / Todo lo tiene bueno, / también la cara.” (Everything about La Baltasara is good / Everything about her is good / including her face.)

Francisca was well known for playing female characters who appeared on stage with male clothes. Popular comedies were written for her by the very best authors: Lope, Vélez de Guevara, Rojas... But at the pinnacle of her fame, she retired to live in a cave near Lorca called de la Cómica, to devote herself to matters of the soul. She felt in her heart a burning flame, a passionate desire for penitence, meditation and solitude... and she gave up the theatre. She retired, alone, near Lorca, from where a tile mural by Egea Azcona was taken to embellish the garden on the estate, with an ironic but beautiful picture of La Baltasara.

Her former co-actors, including the comedian Miguel Ruiz (who many sources identify as her husband), occasionally visited her to try and change her mind, but her decision was categorical and put an end to part of the actress’ existence to give way to a new, different path. She even persuaded them to lead a contemplative life, setting up a sort of monastic community. This was how the charismatic and spiritual La Baltasara, gave shape to her legend.

Every memory of the writer’s closest assistant helps us understand why this spot in Alhaurín became an isolated, different Garden of Eden. Let’s listen to him.

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La Baltasara: a recluse actress

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La Baltasara:
a recluse actress