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A total of 150 archaeological sites, 1.5 million m2, 20 km of paths and pedestrian paths and more than 100,000 trees in a scenic itinerary to enjoy as a family, which will allow you to visit the four medieval fortifications and contemplate in situ the archaeological excavations.

José Ballesta claims "the participation of all the Administrations and calls on civil society and companies to join this project of the nation will become a focus of historical wealth and unique patrimony in Spain."

The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta, today presented the city project 'The Fortresses of the King Lobo', the first medieval archaeological park composed of 150 heritage sites around the fortresses of the Castle of Monteagudo, the Castillejo, the Castle of Larache and Cabezo de Torres;

a unique landscape, natural and archaeological itinerary in Spain of more than 1.5 million m2.

In his speech, José Ballesta stressed that "Monteagudo is one of those key places to understand how we were Murcia from the past and who we are today.

This heritage complex, which dominates the entire Huerta de Murcia, is not only a cultural and landscape emblem of our municipality, it is a focus of historical and heritage wealth unique in the Spanish Mediterranean. "

The event, which had numerous entities, groups and neighbors, also counted with the interventions of the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Miriam Guardiola, the deputy director of Town Planning Coordination of the City of Murcia, Jesús López, and the archaeologists Luis García and Consuelo Martínez

Ballesta claims support from public and private institutions

The mayor called for "the participation of all administrations and appealed to civil society, foundations and companies, and all Murcia, to carry forward this project of nation, which transcends, and much, the local level."

"It is not time to resort to past grievances, it is time to overcome the lack of self-esteem that we have had Murcia, that certain inferiority complex.

It is time for us to take the firm determination to do it, "he said.

The City of Murcia has drawn up a protocol that has been sent to the state and regional administrations and contains a road map where the joint actions to be performed in this great archaeological park are marked, which include rehabilitation, excavations, expropriations, landscape protection, demarcation and enhancement of spaces of archaeological interest, as well as research and documentation.

"We Murcia have an exciting challenge: recover our history to build our future.

Project Murcia on the international scene and be an example of rehabilitation and protection of one of the most important archaeological sites in the country, "concluded the munícipe.

Keep in mind that this city project has been addressed in more than a dozen meetings led by the City of Murcia with the Government of Spain and the regional government, over the past two years.

Settlement of civilizations

Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the status of a Historic Site, the surroundings of Monteagudo and Cabezo de Torres have been the site of numerous civilizations since prehistory.

It was one of the most influential sites of all the Spanish Levant for centuries, place of residence of Alfonso X the Wise and of Ibn Mardanís, King Lobo.

The project 'Las Fortalezas del Rey Lobo' will create a unique natural and archaeological itinerary in Spain with 20 kilometers of paths and pedestrian paths and more than 100,000 trees and native vegetation of the Huerta de Murcia.

It will be a place for culture, sports and family leisure, which will allow visitors to visit the medieval fortifications and, in turn, contemplate in situ the archaeological excavations that will take place over the next decades, in this site considered one of the most important of the Spanish Levante.

The Monteagudo Visitor Center will be the benchmark of all historical and archaeological research and will become a pioneering space for scientific dissemination through the most advanced audiovisual systems, which will feature recreations in 3 dimensions and augmented and virtual reality technology , which will deepen the roots, identity and history of the municipality of Murcia.

Fortresses, archaeological sites, ditches and historic roads

The archaeological park revolves around four strategic elements:

1) The recovery of the four forts that make up the environment: the Castle of Monteagudo, Castillejo, Castillo de Larache and Cabezo de Torres.

2) The rehabilitation and visibility of the more than 150 archaeological sites in the area, including Iberian and Argárico sites, Roman roads and remains, medieval castles, towers and fortresses, Islamic pools, cisterns, etc.

3) The recovery of irrigation infrastructure and water storage.

The project pays special attention to the enhancement of the network of ditches and bracers that lead to the Segura water area;

a network attested, at least, since the eleventh century.

It is integrated by acequias, azarbes and their channels (brazales and showers or landronas and meranchos), as well as swimming pools.

4) The enhancement of historical roads.

Integrated by the Granada Trail, Camino Mundo Nuevo, Camino del Collado, Camino de la Castillo de Larache and Camino de la Almazara.

Milestones achieved

Throughout the last four years a thorough work has been carried out in the Monteagudo environment that has materialized in the development of the Special Plan by the City Council and the Master Plan of Monteagudo Castle (State, CARM and City Council) , document commissioned by the Ministry that publishes the road map, with deadlines and budgets.

Another of the fundamental actions for the recovery of Monteagudo is the expropriation of El Castillejo, privately owned.

The City Council is finalizing the expropriation process, with an amount of 1.3 million euros.

It has also begun the expropriation of the slope of Monteagudo Castle, which has an area of ​​60,000 m2.

For its part, the regional government, convinced of the importance of the conservation of the monumental complex of Monteagudo and its surroundings, will invest in the castle of Larache, regionally owned, 200,000 euros.

In addition, it has consigned for 2019 one million euros for Monteagudo.

On the other hand, this past summer and almost one hundred years later, the excavations in the Almunia del Rey Lobo of the Castillejo de Monteagudo area have been resumed, under the direction of the archaeologist Julio Navarro Palazón.

The excavations are bringing to light the 'almunia' or recreational estate enjoyed by King Lobo, Ibn Mardanish, in the Murcia of the twelfth century, recovering the gardens, pools and ditches and structures of the farm.

The City of Murcia, along with the Municipal Board of Monteagudo, has also requested the rehabilitation of the image of the Christ of Monteagudo that tops the Arab castle, whose state of conservation is deficient that requires urgent attention.

For this reason, he has asked the Government of Spain (owner of the BIC on which the sculpture stands) an analysis of the steps to be taken.

Another measure, which has just been presented at the Government Board today, has been the drafting of the project to recover the Roman road inside the Monteagudo Visitor Center, which occupies an area of ​​more than 200 m2, and that will be visible to the public.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia