30 Wonderful Photos of Spain in the 1950s and Early ’60s

The 1940s and 1950s were a dark period in Spanish history, where the country was still recovering from the effects of the Spanish Civil War, where the economy was poor and people suffered a huge number of deprivations as a result of the loss of life and the repressive nature of the regime which sought to vanquish any and all remaining Republican support by going after anyone who had been affiliated with or expressed any sympathies towards the Second Republic.

Until the mid-1950s, Spain was crippled by an economic crisis coupled with a government imposed repressive society and culture that demanded uniformity and compliance. Starting in the 1950s, Spain started adopting a more consumerist economy. This would continue on into the 1960s.

These wonderful photos from SBA73 were taken by his father that show life of Spain in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The beautiful Basque village of Pasai Donibane, 1956

A public phone house, Santillana del Mar, in northern Spain, 1956

Before mass tourism, Santillana del Mar, in northern Spain, 1956

Cantabria rural, 1956

Carts instead of mass tourism, Santillana del Mar, in northern Spain, 1956

Fishing harbor, Donostia, 1956

From Santillana churchyard, Santillana del Mar, in northern Spain, 1956

Leaving Pasaia, 1956

Old style fishing boats, probably in a Basque Country harbor; maybe Pasaia or Donostia, 1956

Old style fishing boats, probably in a Basque Country harbor; maybe Pasaia or Donostia, 1956

Old style fishing boats, probably in a Basque Country harbor; maybe Santander, 1956

On a sea trip around La Concha beach, in Donostia, 1956

Potes, in Cantabria, 1956

The beautiful Basque village of Pasai Donibane and it's impressive harbor, 1956

The Ebro in Zaragoza, 1956

The harbor in Donostia, San Sebastian, Basque Country, 1956

The mountain village of Espinama, northern Spain, 1956

View of Colindres harbor, in the Ria de Treto, northern Spain, 1956

View of Colindres harbor, in the Ria de Treto, northern Spain, 1956

View of Santander harbor, in the Ria de Treto, northern Spain, 1956

Zaragoza, 1956

The tiny Catalan village of Estanyol (near Girona), early 1960s

Boats in L'Escala, early 1960s

Boats in the beach, L'Escala, early 1960s

L'Escala fishermen, early 1960s

L'Escala, early 1960s

Puerto de la Cruz, early 1960s

The beaches of Empuries seen from the hamlet of Sant Martí, in the Costa Brava, Catalonia, early 1960s

The fishing port of Arenys de Mar, in Catalonia, early 1960s

This "masia" (Catalan countryhouse) is Can Santigosa, located near Estanyol, a village arround Girona, early 1960s