Caravaca revitalises Castle esplanade with traditional stone paving
The project is using local natural stone and manual techniques to honor Caravaca de la Cruz’s heritage
The expansive job to restore the paving at the Castle esplanade in Caravaca de la Cruz is moving along right on track, and the work has already made a noticeable difference. Scheduled for completion by the end of the summer, the goal is to improve accessibility and the overall appearance of this important corner of the town.
Using exclusively local, natural materials and traditional building techniques, the project should also address the longstanding humidity issues that have affected this National Historic-Artistic Monument.
The radial design of the paving emphasises the grandeur of the Royal Basilica of the Vera Cruz’s Baroque façade, blending historical preservation with modern usability.
Mayor José Francisco García recently visited the construction site alongside Luis Melgarejo, senior member of the Vera Cruz Brotherhood, and councillors José Villa (Tourism), Mónica Sánchez (Urban Planning and Public Services) and José Antonio García (Works).
"This strategic project on our town's main landmark represents a new step forward in the conservation and enhancement of our heritage, with an action that is as necessary as it is in demand. The work is being carried out in a manner that is absolutely respectful of the environment, using local materials and with a radial design that enhances the majesty and exceptional nature of the Basilica's Baroque façade," explained José Francisco García.
The paving covers an area of 3,000 square metres and incorporates three types of natural stone sourced from nearby quarries: Caramiel limestone from Cañada de la Cruz, beige Levante stone paving stones and cobblestone paving from nearby localities. All surfaces will receive a protective water-repellent treatment to enhance durability.
Complementing the paving, a new stormwater drainage system is underway, with an investment of €188,000. It is designed to resolve moisture problems in the monument’s walls and improve sanitation in the Medieval Quarter.
In addition, new ornamental lighting will soon illuminate the Castle and Basilica thanks to a €200,000 investment from the Iberdrola Foundation. The lighting system will employ cutting-edge warm-light LED projectors to highlight architectural details through chiaroscuro effects, emphasising the volume and relief of the main façade in a sustainable and respectful manner.
The paving project is part of the broader ‘Camino a Caravaca’ Tourism Sustainability Plan and represents an investment of €470,762, funded by European Next Generation funds from the National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Caravaca Today
Images: Ayuntamiento de Caravaca de la Cruz
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and shares boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
