The territorial delegate of Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía in Almería, Vicente García Egea, has visited Alcóntar this Tuesday, one of the localities of Almería that has been beneficiary of the subsidies that the Regional Ministry of Juan Marín has promoted for the promotion of universal accessibility and the tourist enhancement of the public cultural heritage of the municipalities of the interior of Andalusia (Patcul) for 2021.
Specifically, 11 municipalities in Almeria have obtained items from this line of aid, for a total amount exceeding 560,000 euros. At Andalusian level, these subsidies, which are awarded on a competitive basis, have a total amount of more than 5.1 million euros.
During his visit to Alcóntar, where he was accompanied by its mayor, Antonio Ramón Salas, the delegate was able to learn more about the project to be undertaken in the town thanks to these subsidies, for a total of 60,000 euros for this municipality.
This amount will be used to work on the Nasrid tower of El Ramil, located in the hamlet of Hijate and dating from the Nasrid period. The building, which is an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) registered in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage, was in a poor state of conservation, so the “rehabilitation of both the access and the tower itself” is going to be carried out in order to “enhance its value” as a tourist attraction.
Thus, the action project contemplates the restoration and consolidation of altered areas as well as the replacement of the same; in addition to the sealing of the cracks and the closing of the hollow at the base of this historic watchtower of the border area of the ancient kingdom of Granada.
The intervention will also improve accessibility to the tower with the recovery of the main access through the repair of the pavement, replacement of benches and metal elements, without forgetting the removal of lighting bulbs from a previous action that has not been the most appropriate.
“It is about recovering the signs of identity of the municipalities, the authentic, as differentiating elements,” said the territorial delegate, who has indicated that inland tourism is acquiring “great prominence” in the province, which is positioning itself as a “benchmark in sustainability”.
“It is a unique strength of the province that is based on sustainability, its great diversity, the presence of natural landscapes and natural parks, in having the second largest forest mass in Andalusia as the Sierra de los Filabres, which will give us sure success in developing inland tourism and consolidate the brand of sustainable tourism,” he said.
García Egea has pointed out, in this line, that for the Ministry directed by Juan Marín is a “maximum concern” and a “total occupation” the development of the interior segment that, as he pointed out, has registered a “one hundred percent” of occupation in this first “Christmas long weekend” in the municipalities of Almeria.
“We have a firm commitment to continue working to make Almeria and Andalusia, in general, a competitive destination. Therefore, we support the entire tourism industry, so that they can implement unique projects that diversify and increase its attractions, dynamize the municipalities, generate employment and opportunities, and also help to retain the population,” he said.
For his part, the mayor thanked the aid of 60,000 euros that will allow “finally”, as he stressed, the City Council can undertake the “definitive” restoration of a watchtower “fundamental for those who believe in the value of heritage and want to keep it alive.
Salas has highlighted how the Regional Ministry is “echoing” the claims of “small” municipalities to restore their heritage and has focused on the fact that “otherwise it would be impossible with our budgetary capacity”.
“The building is in the catalogue of cultural assets and is a significant watchtower that is going to have safe access and conservation; at last the change has taken place,” he concluded.