- EDITIONS:
Spanish News Today
Alicante Today
Andalucia Today
PROPERTY SEARCH
Lorca could soon get a new viewpoint on the old clock tower
It is part of a wider project to renovate the city’s historical buildings and provide new tourist experiences
The imposing main facade of the old collegiate church of San Patricio in Lorca can only be seen in its entirety from the side from the corner with the Plaza de España or Calle Abad de los Arcos.
In order to provide a full, unencumbered frontal view of the church, the Ayuntamiento de Lorca city council is considering installing a viewing point in the clock tower.
Lorca’s clock tower, more recently known as the Torre 22, has already been visited by regional and municipal technicians for Cultural Heritage to assess whether the clock tower is a suitable site to place a viewpoint.
Located next to the Granary (Casa del Artesano), the Torre 22 clock tower is part of the complex of the old city jail and is crowned by a terrace with a railing, which is visible from the central part of the Plaza de España.
As Lorca’s Councillor for Tourism and Culture, Santiago Parra Soriano, explained, “It is difficult to establish the height of the tower… The earthquake of 1674 caused serious damage to the monument, so that years later its highest part was demolished and the clock was moved to the tower of San Patricio.”
The aim of the latest renovations to the clock tower is not only to create a viewpoint to view the main façade of the former Collegiate Church of San Patricio and the roofs of the old city in all their splendour, but also to recover the history of the monument.
“It was of special importance to the city and should be known by all, Lorca and visitors,” said Councillor Parra, who stated that they had not ruled out the possibility of eventually turning the tower into a museum.
“This is a much more ambitious project that aims to create a series of viewpoints that allow tourists a new view of the monuments and the city from above. To do this, we could open up various emblematic spaces that have never before been open to the public.”
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today
Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca
