The Castle of Dénia recovers part of its essence after the restoration of the staircase of the Duc de Lerma

The Castle Dénia has been this Thursday a party that marks the beginning of a new stage in the most important monument in the city. After more than two years of waiting, the restoration work on the Duc de Lerma staircase and the conservation and restoration work on the architectural remains of the Palau Vell and the Palau del Governador have been presented to society.

The works of conservation and restoration in the Palau Vell (14th century) and its extension by the Duc de Lerma in the seventeenth century have focused on the rehabilitation of the so-called Duc de Lerma staircase based on the restoration of the conserved stretches and the reconstruction of the central section that connects with the upper platform of the Palau Vell. The action includes the preparation of this platform and the enhancement of the other Palau Vell areas included in the scope of intervention.

The works have consisted in archaeological surveys; surface treatments on the Palau Vell platform in order to render legible the structure of Islamic origin and its successive transformations; the consolidation of the Palau Vell factories in order to guarantee their conservation, using the same constructive techniques used in their elevation; intervention on the central tower of the south wall of the Castell Vell and its reinforcement, to allow the support of the new section of stairs that is reconstructed; repair of the staircase of the Palau del Governador and construction of the part of the missing staircase that served to reach the upper surface of the Palau Vell, reconstructing the vault that allowed the lower passage parallel to the staircase between it and the towered canvas of Castell Vell.

The works have been financed through the aid of the 1,5% Cultural program for works of conservation or enrichment of real estate of the Spanish Historical Heritage granted by the Ministry of Development, which has invested more than 650.000 euros in this action, and with funds from the own town hall.

The mayor was present at the presentation Vicent Grimalt, the delegate of the Government in the Comunitat Valenciana, Juan Carlos Moragues, and the general director of Architecture, Housing and Land of the Ministry of Public Works, Antonio Aguilar Mediavilla; In addition to the architects in charge of the project and numerous people belonging to the cultural field of the city.

Thanks to the work done, the Castle of Dénia, which received an average of 1.000 visitors a day during the last Holy Week, recovers the Renaissance grandeur and rediscovers the existence of structures and contexts of an Andalusian palace, a construction that would date from the year 1.100 approximately and that would have been the housing of senior officials of the time.