Watchtower welcomes pupils
AN AGREEMENT has finally been reached to allow some visits to the watchtower in Torre de la Horadada.
Pilar de la Horadada town hall has signed a deal with the owners of the 16th century building, the Martínez de Vallejo y Fuster family, who are descendants of the count of Roche.
The tower has been listed as an asset of cultural interest since 1995. As a result, fourth and fifth year primary schoolchildren from the municipality will be able to go inside on educational guided tours.
Mayor José María Pérez Sánchez expressed his ‘profound thanks to the family who own it’, for enabling pupils ‘to see the watchtower up close and find out about its history as an emblem of Pilar de la Horadada’.
He noted that this is the first time that the family have allowed people in and said this agreement was ‘the fruit of dialogue and understanding’, reminding that they have carried out restoration work on part of the home annexe to the tower, in compliance with the law which protects this building.
Another of the legal requirements of its BIC status is that public visits have to be allowed and the family’s refusal until now had been criticised by previous local councils and the Podemos party in the regional parliament.
The tower was built in 1591 as part of the fortifications to defend the kingdom of Valencia against attacks from Berber pirates. It was sold to the count of Roche at a public auction at the end of the 19th century.
Located right on the coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it has a plastered and crenelated conical base with several windows.
The entrance is inside the adjoining private home.
Its name comes from the arrangement of its floors, which are connected by a central opening that runs down from the top of the tower.
The adjoining home belonging to the count’s descendants is in good condition but has undergone several modifications. The town hall did not give any details of if or when the family may allow other members of the public to visit this historical monument.