Location Villamartín, Spain Type Non-movable Designated 1985 | Built 9th century Criteria Monument Province Province of Cádiz | |
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Reference no. (R.I.) – 51 – 0008200 – 00000 Address 11650 Villamartin, Cádiz, Spain Hours Open today · 10:30AM–6PMMonday10:30AM–6PMTuesday10:30AM–6PMWednesday10:30AM–6PMThursday10:30AM–6PMFriday10:30AM–6PMSaturday10:30AM–6PMSundayClosed Similar Dolmen de Alberite, Sierra de Grazalema Natural P, Isla Mágica, Tivoli World, Sea Life Benalmádena | ||
The renovations at matrera castle that outraged locals
Castle of Matrera (Spanish: Castillo de Matrera/Torre Matrera) is a medieval castle at Villamartín in Spain dating back to 9th century. It was declared a national monument in 1949 and an example of Bien de Interés Cultural ("Heritage of Cultural Interest") in 1985. The structure underwent a controversial restoration in 2015.
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Renovation
By 2010, only a few walls of the castle remained standing, and the ruins were further damaged by rain in 2013. A restoration project was launched in 2010, led by the architect Carlos Quevado, and completed in 2015. Parts of the tower were rebuilt with lime plaster similar to samples found on the site, with large, plain blocks defining the original shape of the castle. Quevado described his aim as being not only to protect the ruin, but to "recover the volume, texture and tonality that the tower would originally have had", and to differentiate new additions from the original structure.
The renovation received negative reactions from some locals, with Spain's cultural heritage organization Hispania nostra calling the project "absolutely terrible". It was praised by the architectural community, and was nominated for the 2016 Architizer A+ Award, in the Architecture Preservation category, winning the public choice vote. The Guardian described the design as neo-brutalist, and praised it for restoring "the clout its Moorish creators originally intended".