As the capital of the Vega Baja nostalgically boasts of it’s heritage, the Orihuela, Monumental, Historic-Artistic and Archaeological City Consortium has said that the cost of revitalising the town’s historic buildings will be 41.4 million euros
There are those who remember with nostalgia the investment of 20 million in 2003 – thanks to La Luz de las Imágenes – which saw the restoration of four monumental buildings, an economic injection that has not been repeated in a city with great problems in maintaining its historic centre.
With more than 200 convents and churches, in Orihuela there is a temple on almost every street corner. It is the second most important city in the Valencian Community in terms of cultural heritage, behind only Valencia, as a witness to its legacy as the former capital of the Kingdom and seat of the Bishopric.
The 41.4 million euros will be spent over a five-year period (almost 8.3 million euros per year). This is the estimate made by the Orihuela, Monumental, Historic-Artistic and Archaeological City Consortium, which has launched this week a three-party strategic document – Generalitat, Provincial Council and Town Hall – listing the priority actions – urgent and very urgent.
In total, it includes actions in 29 historic complexes, with three lines of action: the recovery and preservation of the architectural heritage of the historic city with rehabilitation and restoration actions, both of monumental buildings and homes and businesses, involving the public; the provision of equipment and services required by the city (exhibition and conference venues, car parks…), as well as the necessary cultural activity.
The highest amounts would be needed in the Palacio de la Linde, with 5 million, and the Castle, Palace of the Marquis of Rafal and the Church of San Agustín, costing 4 million each.
In addition to the operating costs, which are estimated at 2 million, it includes actions in Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC), with an estimated budget of 12 million to rehabilitate the Chapel de la Comunión and the bell tower of the Church of the Saints Justa and Rufina (2 million); the Castle and its walls (4); the towers of calle Torreta and Embergoñes (1); the site of Los Saladares (0.5); the roofs, humidity and conditioning of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monserrate (0.5); the maintenance of the Palm Grove (2.5); the facades and exterior lighting of the Convent of Santo Domingo (Historical University), another million, and the defensive tower of Cabo Roig (0.5).
In addition, an investment of a further 4 million would be required for the complete rehabilitation of the Church of San Agustín; another 2 for the facades and the hostel of the Diocesan Seminary of San Miguel; a million more for the roofs, facades and structure of the Teatro Circo, as well as 0.5 for the facades of the convents of San Juan de la Penitencia, las Carmelitas and San Francisco, and another half million for the rehabilitation of las barracas de la huerta.
In a third action, many other buildings and groups of interest are included, with an investment of 11.1 million, such as the renovations of the Regional Archaeological Museum (1.5 million), the Santa Matilde Mining Furnace (0.7), the Cremós Wells Deposit -one million- (with an interpretation centre for the Castle), the Ateneo Cultural Casino Orcelitano (0.7), the Casona-Palacio de la Linde -5 million- (calle San Juan), the Alquería/Noble House of Bonanza (0.7) and the Molino de la Ciudad (3).
Except for the municipal property, a great many of the buildings are private, for which agreements would be needed, except in two cases where the purchase of the Palacio de la Linde and the exchange of the Molino de la Ciudad are planned, where a visitors centre for the orchard would be built.
As for the palatial houses and noble buildings , they account for 7.3 million , of which 4 are for refurbishment, the headquarters of the Consell, the Casa del Limón and the headquarters of Tourism in the Palace of the Marquis of Rafal; the facades, the lighting of the doorway of the entire Palace of the Count of la Granja (0.7) and the Palace of the Baron of la Linde (0.5), in addition to the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Palace of Portillo (1.5) and the facades of the Sorzano de Tejada Palace (0.2), the Palace of the Marquis of Arneva (0.4) and the Palace House of Roca de Togores (0.2).
Image: 4 million euro is needed for the Iglesia de San Augustin
