Access and viewing improved at the remains of Yecla castle

The fortress of Hisn Yakka was built by the Moors in the late 11^th century

One of the peculiarities which might puzzle visitors to Yecla is that there are numerous references to the “castle hill” and the spectacular local fiestas are held in honour of the “Virgen del Castillo”, but to the untrained eye there is actually no sign of any castle at all.

This is because the 10^th- and 11^th-century Moorish castle of Hisn Yakka became a ruin centuries ago, and in fact the ruins were further weakened by the construction of the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Purísima (the “Virgen del Castillo”) on the hill in the 19^th century.

Now, however, the Town Hall is pleased to announce that work to make the remains more visible and access to the site far easier have been completed at an investment cost of 186,000 euros, part of which was provided by the regional government of Murcia and EU Next Generation funds. The work has focussed on the residential area of the castle compound – it should not be forgotten that in medieval towns the castle provided shelter as well as protection for the population – and the aim has been to strengthen remaining structures from the pre-Reconquista era to ensure that they survive.

Perhaps most importantly from the tourist’s point of view, in addition a walkway and viewing point have been built, along with information panels along the path and special lighting to highlight the most important structures. For this reason, the idea behind the work is not only to protect the historical heritage of Yecla but also to boost its already dynamic tourism sector.

Visiting the site this week, Mayoress Remedios Lajara explained that the "Rebirth of Yakka" will continue to maximize the historical heritage of Yecla, making visible the remains of the Almohad period, which dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. To this end, she confirmed that the council  is hoping to continue work on this settlement through a new project which, in November of last year, obtained funding of nearly 3 million euros from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to complete the restoration, consolidation and protection of the entire Ḥiṣn Yakka site.

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