The ministry's resolution includes 600,021 euros in funding for the municipal project aimed at archaeological work, consolidation, restoration, and the creation of a visitor route in the Alcazaba and Albacar of the Castle. Added to this amount are 2,467,354.55 euros for the restoration of roofs, facades, and the cloister of the former University at Santo Domingo College, an initiative presented by the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante. Combined, these two interventions represent a planned investment of 4,354,806.07 euros in Orihuela's historical heritage.
The Councilor for Historical Heritage, Matías Ruiz, highlighted the importance of this state subsidy. "This is very important news for Orihuela because we are talking about more than three million euros allocated to intervene in two fundamental assets of our heritage, the Castle and Santo Domingo," he stated.
The Castle project, submitted by the City Council, has a total budget of 1,065,000 euros, of which the Ministry proposes to finance 600,021 euros (56.34%). The intervention includes archaeological excavations, consolidation, restoration, and enhancement of the remains, as well as their musealization and the creation of a visitor route. The project was developed by the municipal archaeologist Silvia Yus and will have the collaboration of the School of Arabic Studies (CSIC).
For its part, the project for Santo Domingo College, promoted by the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, involves the restoration of the roofs, facades, and cloister of the former University. The Ministry's proposal includes 2,467,354.55 euros for this action, which has a total budget of 3,289,806.07 euros.
Matías Ruiz emphasized that the inclusion of both projects represents "an investment of enormous importance for the city's heritage and will allow us to act on two complexes that are an essential part of Orihuela's history and identity." He also highlighted the significance of different institutions being able to access state funding to ensure the conservation of the city's main heritage assets.
The inclusion of the Castle project follows the completion of various processing phases. The Orihuela City Council is contributing 465,000 euros of municipal funds for this action, demonstrating the council's commitment to the monument's recovery. The councilor thanked the drafting team of the 2017 Castle and Walls Master Plan, as well as the councilor from the previous term Rafael Almagro Palacios, for opening up this possibility, and the Territorial Service of Culture in Alicante, especially José Antonio López Mira.
