Project to Restore Segovia’s Historical Heritage for Enhanced Tourism
Organised by the Segovia City Council and co-financed by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2004–2009, following the call for proposals issued on 27 December 2007, which the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism Committee, in accordance with the Evaluation Manual, approved on 19 August 2008.
Through this project, Segovia City Council aims to restore and adapt monuments and cultural heritage sites in Segovia, with the overall objective of developing the city’s tourism sector.
The Department of Tourism and Historical Heritage and the Department of the Environment and Civil Protection of this City Council applied to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Directorate-General for Community Funds, for a grant for the aforementioned actions.
These funds are earmarked for environmental protection, the promotion of sustainable development and the conservation of European cultural heritage, and derive from an agreement between Spain and the countries providing the funds: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (European Economic Area)
The projects were assessed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, passing through two evaluation processes; of the 400 projects submitted, 17 were approved, one of which was the one submitted by Segovia.
The approved project budget amounted to €4,571,539.00, of which Segovia City Council is contributing 50%.
€2,372,055 was invested in the City Walls over a period of two years.
City Walls
The medieval City Walls, dating back to the 11th century, have been restored, rehabilitated and enhanced as a tourist attraction along their nearly three-kilometre length.
The most notable works were as follows:
- Development of a tourist route, signage and promotion using new technologies.
- Consolidation and restoration of the wall in the most deteriorated areas.
- Inspection walkway in the northern section of the wall.
- Inspection walkway in the southern section of the wall.
- Rock stabilisation in the sections of San Cebrián, Cueva de la Zorra and Magisterio.
- Consolidation of turrets 79, 80 and the Alhóndiga.
- Renovation of the drainage system in the southern section.
- Lighting of the city walls from La Hontanilla to the Alcázar.
- Restoration of the San Andrés Gate.
- Lighting of the San Andrés Gate.
- Refurbishment of the Solar del Socorro site.
- Construction of a building on the Solar del Socorro site.
- Access staircase to the South Wall and consolidation of the Wall in the vicinity of bastion 72.
- Drainage works in the vicinity of the Fray Juan de la Cruz School.
- Tourist information point on the Wall.