La Vila Joiosa expands its festive castle with new turrets and a third floor

The Town Hall of La Vila Joiosa has completed the expansion and improvement works of the castle for the Moors and Christians festival, an emblematic structure that serves as the epicentre for some of the most anticipated events of the patronal celebrations. Originally built according to the project contracted by the previous local government team, the castle has undergone a remarkable transformation making it more spacious, taller, and more resilient.

The Councillor for Festivities, Jaime Santamaría, detailed that the reform consisted of the incorporation of two front turrets, each five metres high and two metres in diameter. "They are constructed with marine board, a much more resistant and durable material than the original metal panels, which deteriorated during last year's events," the councillor noted. The panels of the main facade of the ground floor and the first floor have also been replaced with this material.

In addition to the side turrets, a third floor has been added to the castle through the construction of a new turret, 2.5 metres wide and 3.15 metres high, which includes an access staircase. With these actions, the structure now has a total width of 12 metres and a height of more than ten metres, gaining four metres in width and more than three metres in height compared to its original configuration.

Another novelty is the creation of a front door on the ground floor, composed of two folding wrought iron leaves, 2.8 metres high and 2 metres wide. Additionally, the door on the first floor has been relocated from the front facade to the left side, a decision made for aesthetic purposes.

The castle is currently in the painting phase, a process that includes the application of more resistant paint and a renewed design, aiming for its final appearance to be more in line with the monumentality of the ensemble.

It should be remembered that this structure debuted at the Moors and Christians festival in 2024, although the order for its construction was made in April 2023 by the previous government team. However, delays in its execution prevented it from being ready for that year's patronal celebrations. Consequently, Councillor Santamaría then turned to the Federation of Moors and Christians Sant Blai of Altea and the Town Hall of Altea to request the temporary loan of their festive castle.

Last May, members of the Board of Directors of the Santa Marta Association visited the new structure alongside the Councillor for Festivities, witnessing firsthand the progress in construction and the results of the improvements implemented. With these reforms, the Town Hall of La Vila Joiosa strengthens its commitment to providing the festival with infrastructures that match the significance this event holds both locally and touristically.