The Consell Insular de Ibiza has formalized this Monday before a notary the purchase of the coastal defense tower of Portinatx, an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) that becomes public property after a transaction valued at 700,000 euros. The acquisition has been carried out through the exercise of the right of first refusal provided for in the legislation of historical heritage and has a significant funding from the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS).
Specifically, the ITS funds provide 425,000 euros of the total amount of the operation, while the rest is financed with the island’s own resources. The purchase is part of the insular Plan for the recovery and rehabilitation of public heritage spaces and aims to ensure the conservation and enhancement of one of the most emblematic defensive elements of the north coast of the island.
The tower of Portinatx is a construction of the eighteenth century, completed in 1763 and designed by the engineer Ballester. It is part of the historical system of coastal watchtowers of the Pitiusas, built to protect the territory against pirate attacks that marked life on the islands for decades. These defensive elements constitute today a heritage of great historical, cultural and landscape value.
Although the tower is preserved in a relatively good structural condition, it had accumulated decades of lack of maintenance, which made public intervention essential to ensure its preservation. Until now, the monument had remained in private hands, a situation that had generated a historical claim on its future and its access by the citizens.
With this acquisition, the Consell de Ibiza has stated that it puts an end to a long process initiated years ago and opens the door to promote actions of restoration, rehabilitation and adaptation of the space. The aim is to make it possible to open it to the public and integrate it into the heritage and cultural routes of the island.
The Executive Councilor for Education, Culture and Heritage, Sara Ramon, stressed that “today we close a chapter that had been open for too long and ensure that the tower of Portinatx is definitely protected as public heritage”. Ramon also stressed that “the exercise of the right of first refusal and the use of funds from the Sustainable Tourism Tax show that these resources serve to return to the public heritage assets that are part of our collective identity”.
According to the Councilor, the purchase allows “to move from words to deeds” and ensure that this monument “is not only preserved, but can be known, visited and appreciated by present and future generations”.
