The Orihuela City Council has received official notification from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda confirming that the file for the recovery of the Castle of Orihuela has passed the pre-evaluation and documentary verification. This step is crucial for the continuation of the project, which primarily focuses on the Alcazaba and the Albacar.
The application, submitted in February 2026 for the 2025 call, requests state funding of 600,021 euros, representing 56.34% of the total cost, while the council contributes 465,000 euros. The Councilor for Historical Heritage, Matías Ruiz, highlighted the importance of having passed this phase, stating that the project "continues forward in the call".
The main objective of the action is to deepen the knowledge, conservation, and enhancement of the castle. The first phase includes archaeological excavations to better understand the existing structures, followed by consolidation, conservation, and subsequent musealization of the remains. The aim is to combine scientific research with public enjoyment of the space.
The project, developed by municipal archaeologist Silvia Yus, will involve collaboration with the School of Arabic Studies (CSIC), through researcher Pedro Jiménez. An agreement will be formalized to strengthen archaeological and scientific work.
Matías Ruiz emphasized that the intervention will be carried out with "rigorous methodology" and will include the creation of a visitor route to improve the interpretation of the complex. The municipal ownership of the castle, registered since March 2020, is a key requirement for accessing state funding.
The council will continue the administrative procedure and maintains its commitment to the castle's recovery, regardless of the final outcome of the state call, with an assured municipal allocation of 465,000 euros. "We want each intervention to serve to conserve it, but also to know it better," stated Ruiz.
