The delegate of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Antonio Mena, has visited the Gypsum Interpretation Centre located in the municipality of Suflí. This is a project that aims to enhance the value of an old gypsum quarry that could become a tourist attraction of reference in the whole region.
Mena has assured «that there is no other place of similar characteristics in the whole area; firstly, because of what it meant at the time and, secondly, because it is located in the middle of nature where there is a cave that can be walked through». The total investment is 84,156.36 euros and the aid granted has been 65,000 euros funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development through the Rural Development Group of Levante-Almanzora.
During his visit, the territorial delegate highlighted «the importance of this type of aid to promote tourism in the villages and give them more heritage value, which translates into more visitors, more economic expenditure and a fight against depopulation».
The work being carried out consists of adapting the entrance to the cave by means of stairs that will lead to a projection room so that visitors can watch a documentary on the formation of minerals and their use throughout history, focusing mainly on gypsum. There will also be a recreation of a gypsum kiln, as well as different information panels that will show how the mineral was extracted from the earth and the whole process of elaboration, until it was used as a construction material. Visitors will also be able to walk around an area next to the site known as the Las Yeseras path (SL – A27 path) and after the tour the visit will end in a rest area, where barbecues and tables will be set up for outdoor enjoyment.
The eligible expenses have been a civil work of Ärea Recreativa y Equipamiento Cultural for the interpretation of the gypsum and its extraction, as well as the purification equipment of high density polyethylene (HDPE/HDPE) consisting of septic tank and bile filter and an installation of photovoltaic panels for self-consumption.