From Barcelona to Estepona: AI videos show what life was like in Spain 100 years ago
New technology brings Spain’s ancient cities back to life in stunning one-minute videos
@miravista.es Barcelona Siglo XX parte 2 - miravista.es #barcelona #sigloxx #sigloxix #catalunya #cataluña #antiguo #historia #historical #miravista ♬ son original - miravista.es
Ever wondered what the Spanish town where you live looked like a century ago? Thanks to a clever combination of artificial intelligence and historical photographs, that curiosity is now being answered in a visually captivating way.
Miravista, a Facebook and Tiktok profile, is reimagining the past of Spanish cities by using AI to transform old black-and-white photographs into short, animated colour videos. These one-minute clips give a glimpse of what daily life might have looked like in various places across Spain at the turn of the 20th century, and even further back in some cases.
The project has quickly grown in popularity, especially among those with a nostalgic love for Spanish history or simply a fascination with how much their hometown has changed.
@miravista.es Estepona en video 1870-1980 parte 1 - miravista.es #estepona ♬ son original - miravista.es
In one recent post, a bustling corner of Estepona comes to life, complete with traditional dress and dusty cobbled streets, while another shows the coastal charm of Benidorm long before high-rise hotels dominated its skyline. Barcelona, meanwhile, is seen in a more intimate light, with scenes capturing quieter moments in a city that today rarely stands still.
@miravista.es Benidorm Siglo XX parte 1 - miravista.es #benidorm #alicante🇪🇸 #historical ♬ son original - miravista.es
The videos are created by animating vintage photographs and adding subtle movements, colour, and life-like touches that turn static images into living memories. The result is strangely moving, almost like stepping into a time machine.
“We wanted to bring history closer to people,” says Miravista on its Facebook page. “Have you ever wondered what your city was like almost 200 years ago? Well, Miravista gives you the chance to discover the most important places in your city in a video that's just one minute long.”
The project casts its net far and wide all over Spain, offering nostalgic views of different towns and cities all across the coutnry, from the Mediterranean coast to inland communities and historic Andalusian gems.
It’s a fascinating blend of nostalgia and innovation, and a reminder of just how powerful technology can be when it’s used to reconnect us with the places that many of us call home.
Videos: miravista.es/TikTok
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