Junta removes grants for conservation of Church and municipal heritage

Work in progress at Jimena castle
(Photo: buceite.com)

Culture department targets buildings used as stages, archaeology activity and acts in historical premises

ANDALUCÍA Once again it is the country's heritage and arts that suffer under the tragic cutbacks resulting from Spain's financial crisis and a consequent 'lack of credit', according to the Junta's official bulletin (BOJA). Thus, grants or subsidies requested by town halls throughout the region to maintain their heritage, carry out archaeological research (in an area that is heavy with Roman, Phoenician and Moorish remains, among others) or renovate their historic scenery have disappeared, together with help given to the Church for the same purpose. At a stroke, the department headed by Luciano Alonso (PP) has ordered the suspension (read 'elimination') of a series of activities and events that have delighted residents and tourists for years.

Is restoration work starting on the castle?

JIMENA This photo by El Niño de las Torres on TioJimeno's El Rincón de Contreras section announces that work is afoot on the castle, which needs it badly and urgently. Whether picks and labourers are imminent up there is another matter. According to El Niño, there are also barriers and even a guard's hut as well. You never know. As Manolo says, "The castle is very old. It'd be cheaper to knock it down and build a new one." (As quoted on TJ)

Where are the antique tiles?

LA LÍNEA (Agencies) One of the towns lovely squares, Plaza Cruz Herrera was remodelledn not long ago. The new fountain, or rather, the restored fountain, was unveiled with great pride - but caused gasps among many of those attending. Since then, it has been a war of words and accusations from all political fronts. What happened to the beautiful old Seville tiles that had adorned the fountain since 1928? They were apparently replaced by some made by the local pottery employment scheme, to the indignation of those whose opinion centres around the fact that La Línea will have its 141st birthday next July. The Councillor in charge of public works, Alfonso Escuadra (PP), agrees -for once- with the mayoral candidate Gemma Araujo (PSOE) in that 'it is necessary to conserve what little patrimony we have'. But Escuadra is unable to explain the whereabouts of the old tiles, or even why they were removed in the first place and has opened an internal investigation to find them. That was about six weeks ago and the tiles refuse to appear. Indeed, he maintains that any restorer -and there is one on the municipal payroll- knows that it is "unnecessary to remove them, that they should be restored in situ.">

Spain's southernmost fortress

TARIFA
The southernmost fortress in Spain, Castillo de Guzmán el Bueno, and the scene of innumerable historical battles and events, was registered as a Bien de Interés Cultural de Andalucía on June 29, 1985. The date therefore marks the 25th anniversary of its protection. According to the register, the castle was used for military purposes from 912 and 1035. The register's data base tells us that it dates from the 10th century, as it says on a carved commemorative stone that still exists,  and is thus the oldest in the area. Only part of the castle is presently open to the public, as archaeological digs and studies are being carried out in the other part. In fact, Roman remains were found recently in the central square.

Cannons head for scrapyard

TARIFA / Photo: EuropaSur

The cannons at the disused military coastal battery are being dismantled and broken up, and headed for the scrapyard. Except for one that is going to the Naval Museum in San Fernando. Another two, enormous 380mm monsters at Paloma Alta, are being conserved thanks to an agreement between the Mellaria 'heritage defence' organization and the Ministry of Defence in Madrid. At some point these were the largest cannons in the world and the organization wants to create a theme park around them.

Jimena Mayor visits Madrid to request money for castle renovation

JIMENA
Mayor Pascual Collado visited the Director of Restorations of the Ministry of Development, José María Verdú, in Madrid last week. The meeting was to request an investment of just under €1million to restore Jimena's castle under the '1% Cultural Plan', whereby that percentage is reserved for heritage restoration out of the Public Works budget. Renovation would result  in the opening to the public the main tower (Torre de Homenaje) and a guided tour of the walls to identify the various periods of work carried out on them, among other things that, says the Mayor, would be very important to the municipality and would "revitalise tourism and the local economy." A decision as to the inclusion of Jimena in the plan is likely to come down in July.