The Sant Cristòfol hermitage, a place of great devotional importance for the residents of La Todolella and nearby towns such as Forcall, Cinctorres, La Mata, and Morella, is close to reopening its doors. Cracks detected in the structure, caused by ground movements, forced its closure for safety reasons in 2021.
The reopening is made possible by an investment of 420,000 euros from the Consell (Regional Government) and the commitment of the La Todolella City Council. Local PP spokesperson Alfred Querol highlighted the regional government's commitment to the heritage of inland areas.
This year, two grants have been awarded: 150,000 euros from the Presidency to repair the temple's pathologies and 190,000 euros from the Ministry of Culture to consolidate its structure. These 340,000 euros are supplemented by an 82,000 euro investment from the City Council.
Furthermore, the council has funded geotechnical studies with boreholes up to 20 meters deep to analyze ground movements and has installed monitoring plates for the cracks. Querol aims to secure an additional 100,000 euros to complete the works and ensure accessibility.
Currently, the works are progressing with the goal of completion next year. Querol emphasized that "investing in heritage preserves the tradition and history of our towns while also promoting tourism," celebrating the "sensitivity" shown towards La Todolella.
