Isabel Rodríguez points to the 2% Cultural programme as a guarantor of our historical and cultural heritage

The Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, together with other authorities, during her visit to the Roman cistern of La Calderona

The Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez, together with the Mayor of Porcuna (Jaén), Miguel Moreno, the President of the Provincial Council of Jaén, Francisco Reyes, and the sub-delegate of the Government in the province, Manuel Fernández, visited the restoration and recovery works of the Roman cistern of La Calderona that have been carried out thanks to the 1.5% (2% from 2021) Cultural programme of the Government of Spain.

Isabel Rodríguez has defined this cultural recovery programme as "a programme that is an economic dynamiser and generator of employment at local level; it is a reference point for tourism by generating quality and cultural tourism, and is another tool for territorial cohesion as it is spread throughout the state, committed to the recovery of our country's heritage and cultural memory, while respecting its diversity".

The Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda thanked the other administrations that have taken part in the recovery of these Roman remains, the Provincial Council of Jaén and the Town Council of Porcuna, pointing out that "understanding and collaboration between administrations has only one beneficiary, the citizens of our country".

Rodríguez also recalled that since 2018, the Autonomous Community of Andalusia has received more than €121 million through this programme to recover and preserve its heritage, as the territory of our country that has received the most funds in this regard.

La Calderona Roman cistern

The Roman cistern of La Calderona in Porcuna is a structure dating from the 1st century BC and was one of the main water storage tanks of the ancient Roman city of Obulco.

The process of restoration, consolidation and enhancement of this space has taken three years, at a cost of more than €1.7 million, within the framework of the 1.5% Cultural programme. The Central Government has contributed 70% of the total budget, while the Consistory has assumed 18% and the Provincial Council 12%.

Vázquez de Molina Palace, in Úbeda

The head of Housing and Urban Agenda also visited the actions being carried out in the Palacio Vázquez de Molina, in Úbeda (Jaén), which aim to preserve and revitalise this historic building.

The future use of the Palace includes returning part of the municipal buildings, including the Plenary Hall, and combining the rest of the buildings for tourist and cultural use. The project is divided into two phases with a final budget of €3.7 million and a contribution from the state government of 70% of the total.

During her visit to the city of Úbeda, Isabel Rodríguez was accompanied by the Mayoress of Úbeda, Antonia Olivares, with whom she was able to hear the details of the refurbishment work and the future uses of the Palacio Vázquez de Molina.

The minister also highlighted the monumental character of Úbeda as a World Heritage City and the work and respect of the mayoress for the history and legacy of the town in terms of economic and social development, and for implementing in Úbeda "the Spanish urban agenda, which is aligned with the commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)".

Investments in Andalusia

Since 2018, Andalusia has received €121,436,820 through the 1.5% Cultural programme (2% from 2021), making it the Autonomous Region with the greatest investment from the Government of Spain for the recovery, rehabilitation and conservation of cultural heritage within the framework of this tool of territorial solidarity and redistribution of public funds.

There are currently seven projects under way in the province of Jaén under the 2% Cultural programme:

• The restoration and preventive rehabilitation in the BIC of Jaén of the Antigua carniceria and Fuente de los Caños, and the Baños Árabes del Naranjo, in the city of Jaén.
• The restoration and consolidation of the Puerta Nueva in the monumental complex of the huerta de la Muta, in the municipality of Alcalá La Real.
• The adaptation, consolidation and conservation of the fortified complex of La Guardia in the city of Jaén.
• The consolidation and enhancement of the Castle in the municipality of Bedmar y Garcíez.
• The restoration and refurbishment of the Torre del Homenaje in the town of Higueras de Calatrava.
• The restoration of the roof and rehabilitation of the west wing of the Vázquez De Molina Palace in Úbeda.
• The Roman cistern of La Calderona in Porcuna (completed).

Non official translation