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Date Published: 17/06/2022
ARCHIVED - First phase of Murcia Old Jail opens to the public this month
Plans for phase two of the Murcia landmark will be unveiled, along with an exhibition of the history of the building
Rehabilitation works have been underway on the Old Murcia Jail (Cárcel Vieja) for several years now but following a considerable delay, the City Council has confirmed that the emblematic building will open its doors to the public later this month.
Phase one of the ambitious project, which overall involves building an exhibition area, office spaces, a cafeteria, cultural centre and art workshop, in addition to widening the path surrounding the jail’s facade, was due to be completed in February but the work dragged on.
Now, an exhibition on the history of the building, which was first opened in 1929 and held prisoners until 1980, has been completed and this will be the first stage to be unveiled in June. Alongside this inauguration, the Murcia City Council will present the second phase of the renovation project to visitors. Stage 2 is undoubtedly the more extensive, and the 7.5 million euro expense is expected to be covered by the European Next Generation Fund.
The Old Jail isn’t the only historic building to benefit from the funding as the council intends to fully reform the Almudí Palace, the Saavedra Fajardo and Verónicas food markets, the Ramón Gaya Museum. The five projects will cost a total of more than 25 million euros and the price tag will be shared between the municipality and Europe.
Deputy Mayor Mario Gómez highlighted the importance of these buildings and the need for improvement after so many years of neglect: "Murcians deserve to have such symbolic buildings in the best conditions for their use and enjoyment, and that is what these projects pursue."
Image: Ayuntamiento de Murcia
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