Restoration work planned at the Torre de Santa Isabel in Puerto de Mazarrón

The 16th-century watchtower is one of three such surviving structures in the municipality of Mazarrón

The Town Hall of Maarrón, ever keen to highlight the rich and varied historical and cultural heritage of the municipality, has announced that a restoration project is to be undertaken at the Torre de Santa Isabel, the 16^th century watchtower which stands over Puerto de Mazarrón above the bus station and the area where the weekly market is held every Sunday.

This is one of three such watchtowers in the municipality (the others being the Torre del Molinete in the town of Mazarrón and the Torre de los Caballos in Bolnuevo) and all were built to provide ample warning to the population of the area in the event of approaching Berber raiders from northern Africa. Such raids were frequent in the late Middle Ages and one of them gave rise to the legend of the Miracle of Bolnuevo, which is still celebrated every year!

Back in the 21^st century, though, the need has arisen for structural reinforcements and a restoration of the building to the condition its Item of Cultural Interest status deserves, and this work is being financed in large part by UE Next Generation funds and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism as well as the regional government. Apart from consolidation and restoration of the actual structure, the project includes improvements in accessibility and the surrounding public garden area.

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the Mazarrón section of Murcia Today.