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Date Published: 11/04/2024

Demolition work begins on the stairs of San Patricio Collegiate Church in Lorca

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The staircase was added to the historic Lorca building in recent years and poses several health and safety risks

Demolition work begins on the stairs of San Patricio Collegiate Church in Lorca

Demolition has commenced on the main façade staircase of the San Patricio Collegiate Church in Lorca. The decision comes in response to persistent complaints directed at the City Council concerning the staircase's problematic layout and poor condition.

Councillor for Urban Planning, María Hernández, stated that the staircase wasn’t built as part of the original structure and holds no heritage protections, allowing for its removal.

Projected to span two weeks, the total costs are estimated at 7,000 euros, although the demolition work itself will only take a single day. Constructed in 1996, the present staircase sits at the main entrance to the church on Calle Corregidor, jutting out over the street with steep inclines and narrow steps, rendering it practically unusable.

A report from the Municipal Archive of Lorca explains the rationale behind the costly renovations: “Apart from the ceremonial character for special occasions that it fulfilled in the past, it is evident that in recent decades no reform carried out on this staircase has given optimal results, because it does not seem designed for its use.

“Steep slope, very narrow steps and absence of handrails make it impractical due to its lack of safety.” The document also points out that the stairs “constitutes a serious obstacle to the movement of vehicles through the street, which is already quite narrow, which has caused its deterioration.”

Moreover, because of the obvious dangers, this important element of the historic building hasn’t been open to the public for several years, and no part of the structure authentically corresponds to 18th century architecture. Therefore, the costs to maintain it as it is simply can’t be justified.

The council also explained that the hundreds of children and teenagers squeeze by the narrow road every day to attend the nearby schools, a pathway which they are forced to share with vehicles because of the staircase.

“This is one of the main objectives to undertake this reform that would eliminate the narrowing of the road and the risk of being run over by pedestrians,” concluded the Urban Planning councillor.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today

Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca

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Oficina de Turismo de Lorca

Lorca Tourist Office

The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern City has built its tourism industry. Amongst these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish Quarter of the castle and Synagogue, Lorca Tourist Office Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.

Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as an earthquake which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011 and claimed 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.

Lorca Tourist Office The tourist office itself has temporarily relocated until the renovations are completed and is on Calle San Patricio near the church.

Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of, Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Lorca Tourist Office Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only through agricultural exploitations.

However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a Lorca Tourist Office series of parades in which the whites (Paso Blanco) and blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.