The deputy delegate of the Government in A Coruña, María Rivas, visited this morning, together with the mayor of Ferrol, José Manuel Rey Varela, and Nuria Álvarez, responsible in Galicia of the Institute of Transition Justa, the Castle of San Felipe to know at first hand the progress of the works of rehabilitation of this patrimonial asset, a historical performance in the city of Ferrol that has an investment of almost one million euros from the Government of Spain.
The interventions focus on two fundamental areas of the fortified complex: on the one hand, on the High Battery, where the cleaning and repair of the walls and the garden will be undertaken with the aim of recovering its original character and enhancing its historical function within the defensive system of the estuary. On the other hand, in the House of the Commander a deep architectural intervention will be carried out to enable it as a cafeteria, removing additions from the 20th century, consolidating the existing walls and reconstructing the horizontal structure of the upper floor of one of the buildings.
This project was selected by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge within the program of aid to municipalities affected by fair transition processes, thus responding to the historical demand of the ferrolana citizens and betting on the dynamization of the territory through its heritage.
“Ferrol had been waiting for this rehabilitation for many years. This action is an example of the commitment of the Government of Spain to this city and its future,” said María Rivas during the visit.
In addition, he added that “with investments like this, the Government is showing that preserving the heritage is also betting on local development, sustainable tourism and the cultural identity of our territories.” The subdelegate affirmed that “Ferrol is a strategic city for the Government of Spain with investments that exceed 5.2 billion euros to boost its industrial and tourist development”, and recalled some of the main actions planned for Ferrol such as the more than 5 billion for the construction of the frigates and the new BAC ship, the improvements in railway access to Porto Exterior with 125 million, the bypass of the Ferrol-A Coruña railway line, with 28.9 million, or the access work of As Pías, with 11 million euros.
The Castle of San Felipe, declared Ben of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 1994, is one of the main patrimonial references of Ferrol. Built in the 16th century by order of Philip II, and reformed in the following centuries, it was part of a defensive system that protected the estuary from possible maritime attacks. Today, this emblematic space enters a new stage with the aim of becoming a pole of tourist and cultural attraction of first level.