Juan Antonio Mira Rico | Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (original) (raw)

Books by Juan Antonio Mira Rico

Castells i torres d'Alacant, 2024

La dinàmica històrica de les comarques alacantines entre els segles XI i XV va afavorir que aques... more La dinàmica històrica de les comarques alacantines entre els segles XI i XV va afavorir que aquestes muntanyes s'eriçaren de castells i torres en una època en què aquestes terres eren un disputat territori de fronteres fluctuants com a part del Šarq Al-Andalus, primer, i de les corones d' Aragó i Castella, després.

Una vegada perduda la seua funció militar, aquestes fortificacions i torres van ser víctimes de l'abandó durant segles, i no va ser fins a la segona meitat del segle XX que se'n va començar a reivindicar l'enorme valor patrimonial. En els últims anys, moltes han sigut recuperades i s'han adaptat per a la visita, fins i tot s'han convertit en continents d'exposicions o altres usos. Això les ha convertit en un patrimoni únic de gran interés que, amb una planificació adequada i l'ús de les noves tecnologies, podria convertir-se en un eix de gran rellevància econòmica i turística.

En aquest llibre trobareu resposta a moltes de les qüestions que durant dècades han format part de la llegenda que ha acompanyat els castells i les torres entre la població local: qui els va construir i per què?; quin ús van tindre i fins quan?; qui en va ser el propietari i a qui pertanyen és ara?... A més, hem elaborat una sèrie de fitxes amb les fortificacions i torres que son actualment visitables amb tota la informació necessària —degudament actualitzada— per a planificar una visita. Esperem que siguen útils al lector per a conéixer uns vestigis del nostre passat que tenen molt de futur.

Castillos y torres de Alicante , 2024

La dinámica histórica de las comarcas alicantinas entre los siglos XI y XV favoreció que nuestras... more La dinámica histórica de las comarcas alicantinas entre los siglos XI y XV favoreció que nuestras montañas se erizaran de castillos y torres en una época en la que estas tierras eran un disputado territorio de fronteras fluctuantes como parte del Šarq Al-Andalus, primero, y de las coronas de Aragón y Castilla, después.

Una vez perdida su función militar, estas fortificaciones y torres fueron víctimas del abandono durante siglos, y no fue hasta la segunda mitad del siglo XX cuando se empezó a reivindicar su enorme valor patrimonial. En los últimos años, muchas de ellas han sido recuperadas y se han adaptado para la visita, incluso se han convertido en continentes de exposiciones u otros usos. Esto las ha convertido en un patrimonio único de gran interés que, con una adecuada planificación y el uso de las nuevas tecnologías, podría convertirse en un eje de gran relevancia económica y turística.

En este libro se encontrará respuesta a muchas de las cuestiones que durante décadas han formado parte de la leyenda que ha acompañado a los castillos y las torres entre la población local: ¿quién los construyó y por qué?; ¿qué uso tuvieron y hasta cuándo?; ¿quién fue el propietario y al que pertenecen es ahora?... Además, hemos elaborado una serie de fichas con las fortificaciones y torres que son actualmente visitables con toda la información necesaria -debidamente actualizada- para planificar una visita. Esperamos que sean útiles al lector para conocer unos vestigios de nuestro pasado que tienen mucho futuro.

Desde su nacimiento en el año 1965, la participación ha sido uno de los pilares básicos del Conse... more Desde su nacimiento en el año 1965, la participación ha sido uno de los pilares básicos del Consejo Internacional de Monumentos y Sitios (Icomos, por sus siglas en inglés), ya sea desde el punto de vista interno (entre profesionales o colaborando en el funcionamiento de la organización) y desde el punto de vista externo con gobiernos, administraciones, sociedad civil, otras asociaciones profesionales, mundo académico, etc.

El Observatorio de Educación Patrimonial de España promueve actuaciones de difusión y divulgación del patrimonio en el marco de un Plan de Alfabetización en Educación Patrimonial centrado en los ODS, donde las cuestiones de equidad, diversidad, calidad, multiplicidad de contextos (urbanos, rurales…) y la inclusión son ejes prioritarios. Este libro forma parte de los materiales generados para ser consultados y utilizados por los gestores, educadores, mediadores y, en general, aquellos agentes que tienen entre sus responsabilidades la educación patrimonial de la sociedad.

Se aborda la gestión educativa del patrimonio desde la perspectiva de sus impulsores junto con las personas que participan y disfrutan de la educación patrimonial, mostrando reflexiones en torno al cambio del concepto de patrimonio y analizando ejemplos concretos que expresan estos cambios desde una perspectiva internacional.

Toponímia dels pobles valencians, 2022

Atlas toponímico del municipio de Castalla (Alicante), editado por la Acadèmia Valenciana de la L... more Atlas toponímico del municipio de Castalla (Alicante), editado por la Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.

Catálogo de la exposición "Valencians en guerra 1808·1814", 2022

Este catálogo muestra los elementos más destacados de la exposición "Valencianos en guerra 1808-1... more Este catálogo muestra los elementos más destacados de la exposición "Valencianos en guerra 1808-1814" y explica las actividades formativas y didácticas que se han desarrollado mientras que ha estado abierta al público.

La exposición es el resultado del trabajo del Archivo Histórico Provincial de Alicante, perteneciente a la Dirección General de Cultura de la Generalitat Valenciana, y de la Universidad de Alicante, a través de los proyectos "Guerra e historia pública" y "Paisajes de guerra".

Valencian castles have been studied from very different approaches, and to greater or lesser degr... more Valencian castles have been studied from very different approaches, and to greater or lesser degrees. This has allowed scholars to better understand their history and morphology, the materials used in their construction and their pathologies, as well as other aspects related to the people who occupied them at different times in history. Furthermore, multiple interventions have been carried out in order to improve their condition and recover them for cultural, social and tourist uses. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of analysis of how fortifications are managed. This research focuses on cultural heritage management, and especially how castles are managed, in the Province of Alicante (Spain). To do this, a qualitative research methodology and semi-structured interviews with specialists have been employed. This project shows the results of research applied to 42 fortifications, owned by several municipalities of the Province of Alicante.

De la Iglesia de Santa Maria a la Ermita de la Sang. Nuevas aportaciones para su conocimiento, 2016

This book is a historical study about ancient Santa Maria church (Castalla, Alicante, Spain). Thi... more This book is a historical study about ancient Santa Maria church (Castalla, Alicante, Spain). This church, built in the Middle Ages, is an example of gothic architecture in the ancient Kingdom of Valencia.

The Castalla Castle Heritage Site field guide with didactic information.

Guia de visita, amb informació didàctica, de la fauna i flora del Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell... more Guia de visita, amb informació didàctica, de la fauna i flora del Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell de Castalla.

Guía de visita, con información didáctica, de la fauna y flora del Conjunt Patrimonial del Castel... more Guía de visita, con información didáctica, de la fauna y flora del Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell de Castalla.

Monograph about the interventions at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción between 2005 and... more Monograph about the interventions at the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción between 2005 and 2010.

Castalla Castle tour guide with didactic information.

Guia de visita, amb informació didàctica, del Castell de Castalla

Guía de visita, con información didáctica, del Castell de Castalla

Serie Mayor, 8, 2010

Monograph about Castalla Castle

Books chapters by Juan Antonio Mira Rico

Castillos y torres de Alicante, 2024

Castells i torres d'Alacant, 2024

Castillos y torres de Alicante, 2024

Patrimonio, participación ciudadana y educación, 2023

Desde su nacimiento en el año 1965, el Consejo Internacional de Monumentos y Sitios (en adelante ... more Desde su nacimiento en el año 1965, el Consejo Internacional de Monumentos y Sitios (en adelante ICOMOS, por sus siglas en inglés), ha tenido como uno de sus ejes fundamentales la participación. La misma se plasma en dos niveles estrechamente relacionados entre sí. En primer lugar, a nivel interno, entre los miembros de la propia asociación a través de, en líneas generales, sus distintos comités científicos internacionales, comités nacionales, comités científicos nacionales y grupos de trabajo existentes. Todos ellos promueven la aplicación de la teoría, la metodología y las técnicas científicas en la conservación del patrimonio arquitectónico y arqueológico. Además, y como muy bien se expone en su página web, ICOMOS

es una red de expertos que se beneficia del intercambio interdisciplinar de sus miembros, entre los que se encuentran arquitectos, historiadores, arqueólogos, historiadores del arte, geógrafos, antropólogos, ingenieros y urbanistas (https://www.icomos.org/en/about-icomos/mission-and-vision/mission-and-vision).

Y, en segundo lugar, a nivel externo pues, como organización no gubernamental, trabaja para conservar y proteger los lugares del patrimonio cultural. Por ello, su colaboración con las administraciones públicas, confesiones religiosas, organismos, organizaciones y sociedad civil es habitual y fundamental.

En ambos casos, la participación se plasma de muy diversas maneras como, por ejemplo, evaluando candidaturas a Patrimonio Mundial, atendiendo denuncias que afectan al patrimonio cultural o asesorando y colaborando en iniciativas y proyectos públicos y/o privados.

Castells i torres d'Alacant, 2024

Castillos y torres de Alicante , 2024

Toponímia dels pobles valencians, 2022

Catálogo de la exposición "Valencians en guerra 1808·1814", 2022

De la Iglesia de Santa Maria a la Ermita de la Sang. Nuevas aportaciones para su conocimiento, 2016

The Castalla Castle Heritage Site field guide with didactic information.

Castalla Castle tour guide with didactic information.

Guia de visita, amb informació didàctica, del Castell de Castalla

Guía de visita, con información didáctica, del Castell de Castalla

Serie Mayor, 8, 2010

Monograph about Castalla Castle

Castillos y torres de Alicante, 2024

Castells i torres d'Alacant, 2024

Castillos y torres de Alicante, 2024

Patrimonio, participación ciudadana y educación, 2023

LA GUERRA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA ESPAÑOLA. Memoria, paisajes e historia digital, 2022

De la Iglesia de Santa Maria a la Ermita de la Sang. Nuevas aportaciones para su conocimiento, 2016

Castellum y Raval del Aljau (Aspe, Alicante). Su recuperación tras siglos de silencio, 2013

Work about the musealisation of the Aljau Castle.

La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Castalla. Actuaciones patrimoniales 2005-2010, 2012

Work about the archaeological intervention at the parochial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunci... more Work about the archaeological intervention at the parochial Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción between 2005 and 2010.

El Castell de Castalla. Arqueología, arquitectura e historia de una fortificación medieval de frontera, 2010

This work analyzes the evolution of the castle between 1888 and 2008.

El Castell de Castalla. Arqueología, arquitectura e historia de una fortificación medieval de frontera, 2010

This work approaches the management of cultural heritage across the interpretation.

Premios Ayuda a la Investigación 2003 (Edición 2005). Artículos Resumen, 2006

This paper is about the management of Castalla's archaeological heritage.

PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE, 2024

The province of Alicante is an administrative unit belonging to the Valencian Community, one of t... more The province of Alicante is an administrative unit belonging to the Valencian Community, one of the 17 autonomous communities that make up Spain, and it is located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Its historical vicissitudes have motivated the existence of many castles. All of them mark the province from north to south and from east to west. After losing their military and/or residential functions, many castles were abandoned and became ruins of reference in their landscape. Their recovery began without a defined use in the second half of the 20th century. However, the tourist development of the province of Alicante, under the Costa Blanca brand, has turned these castles into a first-rate cultural and tourist resource. In this way, many actions have been carried out on their cultural and tourist use to learn about the history of the places where they are. For this reason, the present work is committed to reflect on the new uses of these castles during the first quarter of the 21st century and the remains for their preservation.

Arqueología y Territorio Medieval, 2022

The Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project (Alicante, Spain) was carried out b... more The Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration
Project (Alicante, Spain) was carried out
between 2009 and 2017. One of its fundamental
lines of work was the analysis of unknown archaeological
materials, such as that of malacofauna.
This study is aimed to better know the castle and
people who inhabited it between the 11th and 15th
century. To do so, several species of molluscs have
been determined to understand their functional
categories. In this sense, there are some samples
collected for bromatology purposes both in
Andalusian (11th century-1244) and Christian (14th
and 15th century) contexts, as well as other samples
used in the construction of different parts of
the fortification or even with sound or decorative
purposes.

HER&MUS. HERITAGE&MUSEOGRAPHY, 2020

Spain has been the scene of multiple armed conflicts throughout history, from the Punic Wars and ... more Spain has been the scene of multiple armed conflicts throughout history, from the Punic Wars and Roman Civil Wars to the War of Independence and the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. As a consequence, different places in our geography turned into battlefields. Unfortunately, and despite their importance, Munda (45 BC), Navas de Tolosa (1212), Almansa (1707), Bailén (1808), Arapiles (1812) or Ebro (1938) have become an unknown and not valued heritage. Therefore, their heritage relevance and their educational and tourist potential are ignored. This situation contrasts with that of other European or American countries, such as Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Canada or the United States of America. This paper analyses the cultural heritage management and the situation of the Spanish battlefields throughout different international examples, as well as it formulates a management approach integrated into the National Plan for Cultural Landscape.

HER&MUS. HERITAGE&MUSEOGRAPHY, 2020

TOPIARIUS • Landscape studies • 6 11 , 2018

Castalla Castle (Alicante, Spain), built between the 11 th and 16 th centuries, is one of the mos... more Castalla Castle (Alicante, Spain), built between the 11 th and 16 th centuries, is one of the most outstanding fortifications in the province of Alicante, as part of al-Andalus, first, and the Kingdom of Valencia, after. The present work aims to deepen the knowledge of its landscape on a medium scale for a large part of the Middle Ages. In this way, analysing some material (archaeological) and cultural (written) sources, it has been possible to better draw the Castalla Castle landscape in the Foia de Castalla district, a geographic territory located in the north of the province of Alicante, between the 11 th and 15 th centuries and during two different chronocultural periods: Andalusian (11 th century-1244) and Christian (1244-1499).

Quiroga. Revista de Patrimonio Iberoamericano, 2018

The recognition of battlefields as a cultural heritage has a long history in the Anglo-Saxon worl... more The recognition of battlefields as a cultural heritage has a long history in the Anglo-Saxon world, where they constitute an important tool in the teaching and understanding of history and landscape. At the same time, they represent a cultural tourist attraction of the regions in which they are situated. This article outlines the general significance of the battlefields in the United States and Great Britain and compares it with the situation in Spain, including in its exploration the available digital resources.

Arqueología y Territorio Medieval, 2017

Remains of fauna, charcoal and timber from Castalla Castle (Alicante) have been studied between 2... more Remains of fauna, charcoal and timber from Castalla Castle (Alicante) have been studied between 2010 and 2016, within the Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project. Their analysis has helped to better understand the fortification, as well as the exploitation of those resources made by people who lived there during the Middle Ages.

In this regard, the faunal assemblage shows the prac-tice of a traditional husbandry model in which herds of goats and sheep are highlighted. Other domestic animals with a less important number, as the pig, complete a panoramic view of the agricultural eco-nomy at that time. In terms of hunting resources, red deer was recovered.

On the other hand, it has been determined that pinewood was used in those beams located in the Palace. Furthermore, an approached time framework of two beams has been established throughout the radioactive carbon method. Pinewood also appears among the charred timber from other room struc-tures of Taifal Andalusian, Almohad Andalusian and Christian stages (late Middle Ages). The presence of olive and kermes oak has been documented in Almohad occupancy, although kermes oak is also present at Christian stage (late Middle Ages).

Finally, this project is a contribution to medieval anthracological and zooarchaeological studies in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in different heritage landmarks of the current province of Alicante –Aljau Castle, Ambra Castle, Mola Castle, Río Castle, Petrer Castle, Pobla d’Ifac and Rábita of Guardamar–. They are still scarce for these historical periods, but necessary to improve the knowledge that written sources do not always provide.

Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture XV, 2017

The province of Alicante has an important number of castles. Their existence is the result of man... more The province of Alicante has an important number of castles. Their existence is the result of many historical dynamics, as part of al-Andalus, first, and of the crowns of Aragon and Castile, later. In 2016, during the 3rd International Conference on Defence Sites: Heritage and Future, it was explained how municipalities manage their castles in the province of Alicante – a subject developed in the doctoral thesis undertaken at the University of Alicante between 2013 and 2016. This management will be analysed in depth, taking advantage of the opportunity that the 15th International Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture offers. Departing from a sample of 47 fortifications, their role as a tourist cultural product will be studied in two different ways: determining what actions are carried in these castles – like the implementation of guided and/or self-guided visits with a stable schedule, the accomplishment of open days, as well as dramatized visits, their musealisation, etc. – and which global initiatives, like the Vinalopó Castles Route – carried out by the University of Alicante – or the Costa Blanca 100 Castles Route – a tourist brand of the province of Alicante – are being undertaken by the Provincial Council of Alicante. Finally, in view of the historical and heritage interest awakened by these fortifications, some management proposals focused on their use as heritage resources, with a great potential, capable of being transformed into tourist cultural products of quality will be explained.

Castalla Castle is a part of the Castalla Castle Heritage Site. It is one of the prominents forti... more Castalla Castle is a part of the Castalla Castle Heritage Site. It is one of the prominents fortifications in the Valencian Community. In this way it has been objective of various interventions which have allowed a higher knowledge about it and about people who lived there throughout history. And which have its stage of preservation and given advantage to its social use.

Nevertheless, we still have issues to solve such as the convertion of Castalla Castle into a museum piece, although we have been working in this way. In 2012, in the framework of the Master in Interactive and Didactics Museography at the University of Barcelona, there was a design to convert the castle into a museum piece with interactive and educational character, focused on the history of the castle and on its social restoration with specialized sections of interactive –in Spanish, SEI– using educational and interactive modules, touchable copies and original objects. This proposal, in the context of castles converted to museum pieces in Alicante province is the idea which is going to be published in this essay.

Valencian castles have been studied from very different approaches to a greater or lesser degree.... more Valencian castles have been studied from very different approaches to a greater or lesser degree. This way, it has been possible to better understand their history and morphology, the materials used in their construction, their pathologies, as well as other aspects related to people who occupied them at different times in history. Further- more, multiple interventions have been carried out in order to improve their condition and restore them for cul- tural, social and tourist uses. Nevertheless, the lack of analysis focused on how fortifications are managed should be noted. In order to tackle this situation, an unpublished doctoral thesis project is being developed within the Department of Prehistory at the University of Alicante since 2013. This project has a specific line of research fo- cusing on cultural heritage management, especially on how castles are managed in the province of Alicante. To do this, a qualitative research methodology and a specific method of semi-structured interviews to specialists – mostly municipal technicians: architects, cultural heritage experts and archaeologists, among others – are em- ployed. The interview consists of 59 questions grouped in six blocks: interviewed people data, general man- agement data, management data – research, management data – preservation, management data – restoration and management data – didactics and dissemination. This project will make known the preliminary results from the research applied in 43 fortifications, owned by several municipalities of the province of Alicante. To better facilitate their study, these castles have been distributed into seven groups depending on the number of
inhabitants of the municipalities where they are located, from smaller to greater number of residents.

The Preservation Program of Castell de Castalla is announced through this article. This document,... more The Preservation Program of Castell de Castalla is announced through this article. This document, which has been written by the technical personnel of the Local Service of Cultural Heritage and the Service of Urbanism of Castalla's town hall, was created in 2009-2010. In addition, it is an example of collaboration between both areas; key aspect in town halls of medium size, with human, economic resources and limited materials, but that bet firmly on the conservation of its cultural heritage.

The present situation of cultural heritage properties obliges the public administration to face i... more The present situation of cultural heritage properties obliges the public administration to face its responsibility in the development of management plans intended to prevent their deterioration and lost, as well as to respond to society’s demands on this subject. Taking this idea as a starting point, a proposal to enhance heritage management plans in the Foia de Castalla region (Alicante) is presented. By and large in this region research, conservation and diffusion of cultural heritage properties has been scarce.

Actas del II Simposio de Patrimonio Cultural de Icomos-España. La construcción del.Patrimonio Cultural en el siglo XXI: de la teoría a la práctica, 2023

Las actas recogen los trabajos expuestos en la Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, sede princip... more Las actas recogen los trabajos expuestos en la Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, sede principal del Simposio, por especialistas que generosamente compartieron su tiempo y conocimiento con más de 250 profesionales y personas estudiosas del patrimonio cultural que pudieron reunirse e intercambiar experiencias durante los tres días de duración del encuentro. Los 119 trabajos que conforman estas actas fueron cuidadosamente examinados por un Comité Científico formado exclusivamente por miembros de ICOMOS-España, personas expertas del más alto nivel en los diversos ámbitos del patrimonio cultural, que realizaron las tareas de supervisión de las comunicaciones de forma completamente voluntaria y altruista para garantizar su interés, vigencia y calidad. Los miembros de ICOMOS-España que la componen establecieron con gran acierto y sensibilidad unas líneas conceptuales transversales que, siempre respetando la diversidad temática de los trabajos presentados, sirvieran para poner de manifiesto las principales problemáticas que el patrimonio cultural afronta en la actualidad: éxitos y retos de la Convención del Patrimonio Mundial tras el 50 aniversario de andadura y los 40 de su adopción en España, energías renovables y cambio climático, patrimonios que merecen una atención especial como el agrícola o el industrial, etc.

Proceedings about conference of Foia de Castalla (Castalla, 2003).

REHABEND 2024 CONSTRUCTION PATHOLOGY, REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT. PROCEEDINGS, 2024

The Ermita de la Sang, which was previously known as Església de Santa Maria, is a chapel located... more The Ermita de la Sang, which was previously known as Església de Santa Maria, is a chapel located in the Castalla Castle Heritage Site in the north of the province of Alicante (Spain). It was built at the end of the 13th Century and was extended between the 15th and 19th centuries. Therefore, its historical context belongs to the Christian colonisation process of the ancient Kingdom of Valencia.

From an architectural point of view, it is a single rectangular nave church covered with wood on ogival arches and side chapels. Furthermore, it was one of the most important buildings in medieval Castalla due to its size and civil and religious representativeness.

With some added parts and transformations, the Ermita de la Sang became a monument of great historical and heritage value within the current Valencian Community until the early 1960s (20th Century). Nevertheless, a historical restoration process was developed without following any methodology or scientific criteria between 1963 and 1970, which destroyed and modified a large part of those values. This intervention was followed by less important interventions that did not respect the temple in the 1980s and 1990s (20th Century).

Therefore, the purpose of this research is to publish the architectural actions carried out on the western and southern façades of the chapel between 2020 and 2022. To this effect, the analytical methodology was applied on three levels (historical analysis, constructive analysis and pathological analysis) in the temple according to the previous work.

Moreover, the most recommended actions for each façade were designed. In this way, these interventions have increased the historical and constructive knowledge of the temple and have improved its state of conservation with the appropriate materials and techniques under the national and international regulations on cultural heritage.

Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean / Vol. XVI, 2024

This paper analyses the management of medieval castles in the province of Alicante (Spain) and th... more This paper analyses the management of medieval castles in the province of Alicante (Spain) and the Pomeranian voivodeship (Poland) from the beginning of the second decade of the 21st Century to nowadays. In this sense, Atalaya Castle (Villena) and Castalla Castle have been selected within the Spanish context. They are of Muslim origin and were integrated into the Crowns of Aragon and Castile.
On the other hand, Sztum Castle and Kwidzyn Castle, which belong to the Teutonic Order, have been chosen within the Polish context. The main purpose of this research is to know which models of cultural management are applied in the medieval fortifications of these administrative areas. Therefore, both qualitative and analytical methodologies have been used to this effect. As for the results, this research has allowed to know the positive and negative elements regarding the cultural management applied in these castles.

Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean / Vol. XV, 2023

The management of defensive architecture is largely based on archaeological, architectural and hi... more The management of defensive architecture is largely based on archaeological, architectural and historical
research, which becomes a fundamental pillar to carry out any action of preservation, restoration, didactics
and dissemination. At the same time, a new research approach has been developed on the management of
castles in public ownership at the beginning of the 21st century in different administrative territories such
as the province of Alicante (Spain). In order to analyse it in more detail, a pilot project has been designed
for Castalla Castle, one of the most outstanding fortifications in Alicante. It is aimed at finding out what the
castle represents for its community and how it is perceived through the qualitative methodology, as well
as improving its management. In this sense, is it a reference heritage landmark? Or is it a great unknown
that represents a great economic burden and does not provide any benefit? These questions are of great
interest because, without the effective involvement of the community, the correct management of defensive
architecture cannot be complete as pointed out by the ICOMOS Guidelines on Fortifications and Military
Heritage and the National Plan for Defensive Architecture of the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute.

DEFENSIVE ARCHITECTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. Vol XIII, 2023

In the last decade of the 16th century, Pere Franquesa i Esteve bought some lands in the areas of... more In the last decade of the 16th century, Pere Franquesa i Esteve bought some lands in the areas of El Palamó and Orgègia to build a new town in the future county of Villafranqueza. He engaged the engineer Cristóbal Garavelli Antonelli for this settlement, who made various proposals for the Santa Magdalena site in 1590 according to his orders. In this sense, the project shows a rectangular trace with two perpendicular axes that form a quadrangular space. The Gothic parochial church and the lord’s house with a tower are located there. The complex is surrounded by a wall with four small bastions at its corners and two at the ends of the minor axis. It would be a new defensive system of the Horta d’Alacant together with Verónica Tower.

Actas del II Simposio de Patrimonio Cultural ICOMOS España, 2022

En este trabajo se presenta la propuesta “Descubriendo el National Park Service”, desarrollada co... more En este trabajo se presenta la propuesta “Descubriendo el National Park Service”, desarrollada conjuntamente entre el Comité Nacional Español de ICOMOS, a través de su Comisión de Educación y Participación; y el National Park Service de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante su Office of International Affairs.
La actuación ha servido para dar a conocer, en el ámbito iberoamericano, la historia del National Park Service y su modelo de gestión integral del patrimonio cultural y natural; así como la gestión que realiza en El Castillo de San Marcos (Florida), El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Nuevo México y Texas) y Padre Island National Seashore (Texas). Todos ellos son una muestra de la presencia española en los actuales Estados Unidos de América.

Actas del II Simposio de Patrimonio Cultural ICOMOS España, 2022

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados preliminares de la última campaña de excavación arque... more En este trabajo se presentan los resultados preliminares de la última campaña de excavación arqueológica desarrollada en la vila del Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell de Castalla (Alicante, España), durante los años 2020 y 2021.

La actuación ha permitido documentar parcialmente, pues no ha sido excavado en su totalidad, la residencia de la familia Vilanova, señores de Castalla entre los años 1362 y 1617. La misma, situada junto a la antigua Església de Santa Maria, ahora Ermita de la Sang, sería la edificación doméstica más importante del núcleo urbano, tanto por sus dimensiones como por su representatividad, como símbolo del poder feudal.

Además de la intervención arqueológica se procedió, siguiendo los planteamientos contemporáneos de la gestión del patrimonio cultural basados en la investigación, la conservación, la restauración, la didáctica, la difusión y la participación; la legislación estatal y autonómica vigente; y las recomendaciones de documentos doctrinales del Consejo Internacional de Monumentos y Sitios (ICOMOS), como la Carta Internacional para la Gestión del Patrimonio Arqueológico (1990) o la Carta para Interpretación y Presentación de Sitios de Patrimonio Cultural (2008); a consolidar y señalizar los restos constructivos aparecidos. De esa manera se contribuye a evitar su desaparición, se facilita su comprensión y se potencia el papel cultural y turístico del conjunto patrimonial.

De vuelta a (y a vueltas con) la interpretación y presentación patrimonial. LEGATUM2.0. Musealización y puesta en valor del Patrimonio Cultural, 2022

El procedimiento de selección de originales se ajusta a los criterios específicos del campo 10 de... more El procedimiento de selección de originales se ajusta a los criterios específicos del campo 10 de la CNEAI para los sexenios de investigación, en el que se indica que la admisión de los trabajos publicados en las actas de congresos deben responder a criterios de calidad equivalentes a los exigidos para las revistas científicas.

Vernacular Heritage: Culture, People and Sustainability, 2022

Defensive architecture is a heritage typology of great interest for society due to various reason... more Defensive architecture is a heritage typology of great interest for society due to various reasons, such as its monumentality, history, beauty or ability to fascinate thanks to cinema, literature or television. Like other cultural assets, its management is based on research, preservation, restoration, didactics, dissemination and participation following current approaches. In this sense, heritage education plays a fundamental role since it is a tool that connects cultural heritage with people. This fact becomes a key aspect to guarantee its knowledge, preservation, use and enjoyment over time. This paper will analyse the actions on heritage education of the National Park Service (United States of America) and Parks Canada which
are focused on defensive architecture. Both offices have been chosen because they manage examples of defensive architecture and are world leaders in heritage education. Therefore, the main purpose is to know their actions and make proposals for the Spanish context. This is an interesting fact because Spain has a rich and varied defensive architecture but heritage education still has little presence, which is surprising because heritage education favours society commitment when preserving cultural heritage. To this end, the qualitative work methodology will be used, specifically the analysis technique applied to the contents of the National Park Service and Parks Canada web pages.

REHABEND 2022 CONSTRUCTION PATHOLOGY, REHABILITATION TECHNOLOGY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT, 2022

The National Park Service (United States of America) and Parks Canada are two government offices ... more The National Park Service (United States of America) and Parks Canada are two government offices that preserve cultural and natural values for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of future generations (National Park Service), and promote the public understanding, appreciation and
enjoyment of relevant examples on cultural heritage in order to ensure their preservation for future generations (Parks Canada).

Therefore, they have become interesting models of analysis in different fields such as heritage diffusion. In this sense, this study is aimed to know how both offices work on the diffusion of defensive architecture using new technologies. For that purpose, a descriptive and morphological
analysis, a content analysis and a functional analysis from the user’s point of view have been carried out on Castillo de San Marcos (United States of America) and Fortress of Louisbourg (Canada) applications according to the qualitative methodology. These are two significant examples of
defensive architecture managed by the National Park Service and Parks Canada. Likewise, some similarities and differences have been found on these applications, which has made possible to study their use in other countries like Spain.

LOS CASTILLOS DE ALICANTE ANTE SUS PROYECTOS DE INTERVENCIÓN. Actas del I Seminario de Fortificaciones, 2022

En este trabajo se dará a conocer, de manera sintética, la recuperación social del Castell de Cas... more En este trabajo se dará a conocer, de manera sintética, la
recuperación social del Castell de Castalla –entendida como las
actuaciones llevadas a cabo en los bienes integrantes del patrimonio
cultural y natural, que permiten, a la sociedad, el acceso
y disfrute intelectual y/o físico de dichos bienes–, entre los años
1984 y 2017.

Actas del VI Congreso de Arqueología Medieval (España-Portugal). Alicante, 2019, 2021

The Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project was developed between 2009 and 2017... more The Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project was developed between 2009 and 2017. The works carried out in the ancient village (vila) were very important since they allowed to find an important ceramic set from cistern area. This material dates from two great chronological and cultural phases already documented in the castle: Andalusian, Taifa and Almohad period (11th century-1244) and Christian period (14th and 15th centuries). On the other hand, different pieces of this ceramic set were recovered. They can be classified into three main groups: tableware, kitchenware and other utensils to store food. Their study will help to better understand the origin and development of this important historical site, first as a part of Šarq al-Andalus, and then as part of the Kingdom of Valencia between the 11th and 15th centuries

XVII Congreso de la Asociación de Ceramología, 2020

Since 2009, Castalla Town Council is promoting the social regeneration of the Castalla Castle Her... more Since 2009, Castalla Town Council is promoting the social regeneration of the Castalla Castle Heritage Site. In this project the medieval village has undergone several actions to a better understanding of the configuration. In this respect, it is worth mentioning the interventions carried out in the Cistern zone, which have served to restore a water tank of the 11th century and to discover some attached structures thereto, unknown until now. These actions have made possible to document a significant group of medieval materials, both Andalusian and Christian, of the 11th-15th centuries. Regardless of their chronology and cultural affiliation, the recovered material can be classified into three groups: tableware and presentation, ceramic cooking pots and ceramic storage, and pantry. In short, it is an interesting set of key materials for the history of Castalla, which will be released in this project.

Actas del I Simposio anual de Patrimonio Natural y Cultural ICOMOS España, 2020

The Valencian Community is a privileged territory in terms of castles due to the historical devel... more The Valencian Community is a privileged territory in terms of castles due to the historical development of
Spain, first as part of al-Andalus, and then as part of the crowns of Aragon and Castile. For instance, the
province of Alicante has “only” 47 fortifications of municipal property. Many of them date from the
Muslim occupation or emerged as part of the southeast border’s defence of the Crown of Aragon against
the Crown of Castile.
On the other hand, many of these fortifications have been studied from an archaeological, architectural,
historical and management point of view. This paper analyses the management of Castalla Castle and
Tibi Castle, located in the north of the province of Alicante. These municipal castles are Muslim and take
part of the southeast border’s defence of the Crown of Aragon. They also have different management
degrees. Although Castalla Castle was abandoned during the eighties of the twentieth century, it became
a professionally managed fortification in the second decade of the twenty-first century. For its part, Tibi
Castle is an unmanaged fortification whose situation is beginning to be reversed

Memorias del Programa de Redes-I3CE de calidad, innovación e investigación en docencia universitaria. Convocatoria 2019-20, 2020

Esta red de innovación docente interdisciplinar tiene como objetivo dar a conocer la función del ... more Esta red de innovación docente interdisciplinar tiene como objetivo dar a conocer la función del mediador y la mediadora cultural como profesional polivalente y necesario para la interpretación del patrimonio cultural. Para el correcto desarrollo de esta actividad pedagógica, el alumnado de la asignatura de Patrimonio Cultural de 1º del Grado en Turismo y 3º del doble Grado en Turismo y Administración y Dirección de Empresas de la Universidad de Alicante participa en una experiencia
dirigida por el Área de Didáctica del Museo de la Universidad de Alicante (MUA) en el espacio generado alrededor de la exposición Mulier, mulieris. Posteriormente, el estudiantado elabora, de forma colaborativa, un proyecto de mediación cultural empleando los ítems, asociados a la Guerra de la Independencia española, de la ruta Alicante 1812 (GeHP). En él, estos futuros profesionales deben explicar la línea argumentativa de la elección de los elementos patrimoniales y qué objetivo didáctico desean conseguir. Para terminar, el alumno y la alumna es evaluado por competencias a través de dos rúbricas con diferentes indicadores objetivos y reflexivos para valorar el trabajo y el esfuerzo realizado y su apreciación sobre esta salida laboral y su aplicación al sector turístico.

HERITAGE 2020 Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, 2020

The Valencian Community is one of the autonomous communities that make up the Spanish state and h... more The Valencian Community is one of the autonomous communities that make up the Spanish state and has own competencies to manage its cultural heritage. In fact, Law 4/1998, 11 June, on Valencian Cultural Heritage, was one of the first laws that regulated the intangible cultural heritage in Spain. Intangible cultural heritage is defined in article 1.3 as the most repre-sentative and valuable knowledge, creations, techniques, practices and uses of Valencian tradi-tional life and culture. Likewise, the expressions of Valencian people’s traditions on musical, artistic, gastronomic or leisure manifestations take part too, especially those that have been sub-ject to oral transmission and those that maintain and enhance the use of Valencian – the native language of the autonomous community. One of the most outstanding examples of this heritage are the beliefs, ritual celebrations and ceremonial practices, including the dances. Dances can be included in two domains of the intangible cultural heritage (performing arts; social practices, rituals and festive events), in accordance with article 2.2 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003). Article 2.i) of the Spanish Law 10/2015, 26 May, for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, explicitly recognises both traditional music and dance and sound manifestations as intangible heritage. This paper will focus on analysing the centuries-old, popular and secular celebration known as the Dance of Castalla, declared and intangible asset of local relevance and its management.

Postguerres / Aftermaths of war, 2020

Los campos de batalla españoles son un patrimonio que ha dejado su impronta en la historia, los p... more Los campos de batalla españoles son un patrimonio que ha dejado su impronta en la
historia, los paisajes y las comunidades locales de la que forman parte. Sin embargo,
y a pesar de su importancia, muy pocos son gestionados y se trata, más bien, de un
patrimonio olvidado o, en el mejor de los casos, emergente. Esta situación contrasta
con la de países como Reino Unido o Estados Unidos. En ellos, buena parte de sus
campos de batalla tienen el reconocimiento que se merecen y son gestionados para
conocerlos, conservarlos, recuperarlos y aprovecharlos como dinamizadores culturales
y económicos sociales de su entorno.
El presente trabajo es una propuesta de gestión, basada en la investigación,
conservación, restauración y difusión, de dos escenarios bélicos, actualmente
abandonados, relacionados con la Guerra de la Independencia española y situados en
la provincia de Alicante: Castalla y Mutxamel.

HERITAGE2020 (3DPast | RISK-Terra) International Conference on Vernacular Architecture in World Heritage Sites. Risks and New Technologies (Volume XLIV-M-1-2020), 2020

Vernacular architecture is a reflection of the relationship established by human social structure... more Vernacular architecture is a reflection of the relationship established by human social structures with their environment and how they
take advantage of it for different commercial, economic, productive, pleasure and symbolic-religious purposes. The municipality of
Castalla, located in the north of the province of Alicante, is a good example. It is an enclave in which the land use took place from
Prehistory thanks to the human communities that mould its landscape. This process was intensified since the eighteenth century with
building of pleasure houses, yards, plaster kilns, country houses (in many cases with small chapels) and snow wells, among other
constructions. All of them made up a well-preserved landscape until the end of the twentieth century. Its decline took place with the
industrialisation of Castalla in the middle of the twentieth century and the emergence of new socio-economic conditions.
Consequently, this fact caused the abandonment as well as the oblivion of the material and immaterial characteristics that led to its
appearance. This paper will analyse the characteristics of one of these constructions: Casa de la Glorieta (nineteenth century), which
is an interesting example of rural buildings in Castalla. In most cases, they are austere country houses aimed basically at the land use.
Nevertheless, Casa de la Glorieta (neoclassical style) becomes an ensemble with a double function along with Mas de la Parrotja: to
take advantage of the environment and to serve as a pleasure house for the local bourgeoisie.

DEFENSIVE ARCHITECTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. Vol XI, 2020

Between 2009 and 2017, the "Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project" was execut... more Between 2009 and 2017, the "Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project" was executed with the aim of managing its entire cultural and natural heritage. Castalla Castle was one of the basic pillars of this project, and therefore its musealisation began in 2016. In this way, the fortification was equipped and included some contents that made the visit more attractive. The abrupt termination of this social regeneration project made it impossible to continue with its musealisation, as originally planned. Thus, this paper will explain the proposals that were intended to be carried out in three parts-Palau (Palace), Pati d'Armes (Lower Ward) and Torre Grossa (Large Tower)-in order to enrich the limited offer of musealised fortifications in the province of Alicante and turn Castalla Castle into a reference.

DEFENSIVE ARCHITECTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. Vol XI, 2020

In the Courts of the Crown of Aragon held in Monzón (Huesca, 1528) it was raised the need to orga... more In the Courts of the Crown of Aragon held in Monzón (Huesca, 1528) it was raised the need to organise the coast defence of the Kingdom of Valencia through a series of fortification works and the creation and maintenance of militias in order to avoid the attacks and incursions of the Turks and the Berber cor-sairs. In Alacant (1533), under the auspice of the Duke of Calabria, viceroy of the Kingdom of Valencia, and the design of Joan de Cervelló, noble, military and engineer of King Carlos I and with great experience in artillery and fortification of cities, three bastions were built taking advantage of the medieval walls: Sant Francesc, Sant Bertomeu and Sant Sebastià. These improvement works on the walls continued with the rise of two more towers that protected the gate (Puerta del Mar or Montserrat). The bastions had a circular plan and an escarp elevation up to their half and vertical until the crowning, besides a low armed parapet. They were demolished because of the urban renovations that Alacant experienced during the nineteenth century. However, the historical planimetry, engraving images and photographs, as well as the archaeological excavations carried out in them allow to know their morphology and materials , which are explained in this paper.

REHAB 2019. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings and Structures, 2019

Between 2009 and 2017, Castalla City Council (Spain) developed the Castalla Castle Heritage Site ... more Between 2009 and 2017, Castalla City Council (Spain) developed the Castalla Castle Heritage Site Social Regeneration Project through its Department of Cultural Heritage and the Castalla Municipal Service for Cultural Heritage with the aim of managing all cultural, material, immaterial and natural heritage located in the hill of the castle that makes up this heritage site. The medieval village, located in the heritage site, was the primitive plot of the current Castalla. This large space of 11,000 m2 embraces two large chronological and cultural phases well defined: Andalusian (11th century-1244) and Christian (1244-1499). Its historical importance made it one of the fundamental pillars of the aforementioned project where research, preservation and diffusion converged. In this sense, this work wants to show different actions developed in the cultural asset in order to know its history and urban configuration, recover and improve the preservation status of certain parts and make it understandable to the people. On the other hand, these interventions also enriched the visit to the heritage site and increased the offer of medieval archaeological sites that can be visited in the province of Alicante, which is very scarce nowadays.

VII Congreso de Arqueología Medieval (España-Portugal), 2023

La Ermita de la Sang se sitúa en el Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell de Castalla (Castalla, Alican... more La Ermita de la Sang se sitúa en el Conjunt Patrimonial del Castell de Castalla (Castalla, Alicante, España), al norte de la provincia de Alicante.
Conocida, con anterioridad, como la Església de Santa Maria comenzó a construirse a finales del siglo XIII y ampliada entre los siglos XV y XIX. Es un templo rectangular de una sola nave, con cubierta de madera sobre arcos diafragmas y capillas en los laterales. Por sus dimensiones, y representatividad, fue uno de los edificios más importantes de la vila vella de Castalla (núcleo de frontera del antiguo Reino de Valencia con la Corona de Castilla).

En este trabajo se dan a conocer las actuaciones arqueológicas y arquitectónicas realizadas, entre 2020 y 2022, en sus fachadas oeste y sur.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2010 y 2011, 2012

Abstract: This summary presents the results of archaeological work within the “Project of restor... more Abstract: This summary presents the results of archaeological work within the “Project of restoration of the facade and the bell tower of the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Castalla)”, implemented by the Municipal Cultural Heritage Castalla.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2010 y 2011, 2012

This summary presents the results of “Archaeological monitoring project within the actions for st... more This summary presents the results of “Archaeological monitoring project within the actions for stabilization of blocks on the slopes of Castle Rock Castalla”, implemented by the Municipal Cultural Heritage of Castalla.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2010 y 2011, 2012

This summary presents the results of the first urban archaeological work done in the historical c... more This summary presents the results of the first urban archaeological work done in the historical city center of Castalla, specifically in Trinitat Promenade, Ancha Street, del Carreter Square and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Square.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2010 y 2011, 2012

This summary presents the results of the urban archaeological work done in the historic city cent... more This summary presents the results of the urban archaeological work done in the historic city center of Castalla, specifically in the Major Square, Major Street and Camí de Cabanyes Street.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2009, 2010

Summary of the archaeological action developed in the hill of Castalla Castle in 2009. This actua... more Summary of the archaeological action developed in the hill of Castalla Castle in 2009. This actuation has served to obtain a complete mapping of the hill of the castle.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2009, 2010

Summary of the archaeological action developed in the hill of Castalla Castle in 2009, with the a... more Summary of the archaeological action developed in the hill of Castalla Castle in 2009, with the aim to avoid negative impacts on the cultural heritage placed in the subsoil.

Intervenciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante. 2011, 2012

This summary presents the results of the “Geophysical survey Castalla vila. Phase 1”, run by the ... more This summary presents the results of the “Geophysical survey Castalla vila. Phase 1”, run by the Municipal Cultural Heritage of the City Council, which is part of the social recovery process of the Patrimonial set Castle of Castalla.

Actuaciones arqueológicas en la provincia de Alicante 2010 y 2011, 2012

This summary presents the results of “Project analysis and archaeological study of remains of woo... more This summary presents the results of “Project analysis and archaeological study of remains of wood, coal and fauna Castalla Castle” run by the Municipal Cultural Heritage of the City Council of de town, which is part of the social recovery process of the Patrimonial set Castalla Castle.

This research studies how the municipalities in the province of Alicante –Spanish administrative ... more This research studies how the municipalities in the province of Alicante –Spanish administrative division, framed in the Valencia region, located in the southeast of the Iberian peninsula– have managed the castles of their property between 2003 and 2013.

Master's degrees, 2012

To put remedy to the lack of studies centred on the management of the cultural heritage in the lo... more To put remedy to the lack of studies centred on the management of the cultural heritage in the local area, the investigation carried out has bet for knowing how they manage the municipalities of the province of Alicante, with a population understood between the 10.001 and 15.000 population, part of his cultural heritage: the castles. It is a question of a topic of vital importance, and unpublished in the from Alicante context, because if the fortifications are not managed correctly it can provoke a negative impact in them. Specially if there is no management or this one is an amateur and / or willing.

Talk about interpretation centre at La Guerra de la Independencia española: patrimonio y turismo ... more Talk about interpretation centre at La Guerra de la Independencia española: patrimonio y turismo course.

Talk about recovery of the Castalla medieval village at Legatum 2.0 conference.

Talk about actuations in the Castalla Castle Heritage Site between 2016 and 2017.

Talk about Castalla castle and medieval town.

Talk about the battlefields as a cultural heritage to International Federation for Public History... more Talk about the battlefields as a cultural heritage to International Federation for Public History. 4th annual conference. Ravenna (Italy), 5-9 June 2017.

Presentation made during EZI2017 (Faro, Portugal) about analysis of the XI-XIV c. archaeomalacofa... more Presentation made during EZI2017 (Faro, Portugal) about analysis of the XI-XIV c. archaeomalacofauna of the Castalla Castle (Alicante, SE Spain).

Talk about actuations in the Castalla Castle Heritage Site between 2015 and 2016.

Talk about actuations in the Castalla Castle Heritage Site between 2013 and 2014.

Talk about the Castalla Castle Heritage Site visit guides.

Talk about ceramic from Castalla medieval town.

Talk about interventions in the Castalla Castle Heritage Site

Talk about the Castalla Castle Heritage Site

Talk on the interpretation of the heritage applied to Castalla historical center.

Talk on the recognition and juridical protection of the Castalla Castle Heritage Site (Castalla, ... more Talk on the recognition and juridical protection of the Castalla Castle Heritage Site (Castalla, Alicante).