Heritage groups contest municipal neglect and push protection for Spanish monuments

The Plataforma en Defensa del Castillo de Moros, representing local neighbourhood and heritage groups in Cartagena, has accused the city council of abandoning the historic Castillo de Moros. The platform says required cleaning, maintenance and the four monthly inspections mandated by the regional heritage service have not been carried out, the access road from Santa Lucía remains closed, and €182,465 allocated for urgent repairs in November 2024 have not been spent. The group warns that continued deterioration could become irreversible and urges the municipality to act before the upcoming electoral period.

In Cáceres, the citizen platform Hazte Oír has launched a campaign to keep the Cruz de los Caídos monument standing. The group is pressing the Junta de Extremadura to open an administrative file to declare the cross a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) before the 25 August deadline, arguing that the symbol is a religious heritage site and its removal would set a precedent for other crosses, including the one at the Valle de los Caídos. The spokesperson, María Sánchez, criticised the regional government for delaying the process and pledged to maintain pressure until the monument receives legal protection.