Garrucha Saves Historic Lighthouse But Loses Battle For Land

GARRUCHA has saved 1 of nan astir sentimental pieces of its history: a lighthouse which has been successful cognition for 145 years. Though locals were incapable to revert nan ownership of nan lands surrounding nan lighthouse, nan watchtower itself, a beacon of Garrucha’s proud and sentimental history, will beryllium installed arsenic a tourer attraction connected nan caller promenade, designed betwixt nan Castillo de Jesús Nazareno, an 18th-century humanities structure.

The conflict for nan lighthouse land

The lighthouse was located connected marshy crushed successful Villaricos and saw its first keeper successful 1881, facing nan oversea and guiding sailors done generations of Garrucha residents. Following nan improvement of nan municipality of La Gamba Roja, nan lighthouse became obscured and made it intolerable for nan fixture to support functioning arsenic a maritime signal. It officially ceased operations successful 2021 and was replaced by nan Mojacar lighthouse, installed connected Cerro del Moro Manco.

The municipality of Garrucha had handed complete nan onshore successful a free transportation to a nationalist agency much than 100 years ago. Now, that agency nary longer exists and has been absorbed by nan Port Authority of Almeria, who declare ownership to nan land.

The onshore connected which nan lighthouse stood, 4,522 quadrate metres of plot, will beryllium auctioned disconnected by nan Port Authority of Almeria, and owed to its desirable location (very adjacent nan sparkling beach), respective groups are willing successful nan improvement of a edifice aliases a early residential complex.

Though Garrucha has mislaid ownership of nan lighthouse site, nan fixture itself has been moved and will beryllium saved and preserved for visitors and locals to bask for galore years to come.

Lighthouse keepers: a dying breed successful Almeria

There are fewer lighthouse keepers successful Almeria left, particularly since nan status of Mario Sanz, who had worked for 33 years arsenic nan lighthouse keeper astatine Mesa Roldán, located successful nan Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. The lighthouse, which besides houses a depository of humanities curiosities, is 1 of nan fistful of structures left, and for Almeria residents, it is of nan utmost value to sphere nan histories of these unthinkable structures and their breathtaking seafaring stories.

Only a fistful of lighthouse keepers stay progressive successful nan full region of Andalucia, peculiarly successful Chipiona, Estepona, and Cabo de Gata.