Galleries, exhibitions, accommodation of local and international artists, summer stage, art studio, offices, are just some of the contents planned for the reconstruction of the Španjola fortress in Herceg Novi, whose renovation will cost around four million euros.
The first works should begin in the fall of 2024, while the process of transitioning the fortress into a creative center is expected at the beginning of 2027 at the latest. Tamara Vujović.
Španjola is located on a hill above the city center of Herceg Novi, it is one of the oldest fortresses in Boka Kotor and is registered as a cultural monument of category II. The building served as part of the defense system of the city, and at the place of Španjola, the Turks originally built a smaller fortress, which was then expanded by the Spaniards. The Turks later demolished that smaller building and built a fortress in 1548 that still stands today...
The MKM clarified that part of the reconstruction, in the amount of 1,5 million euros, will be financed with the money of the European Union, within the Southern Adriatic program in which Montenegro participates with Italy and Albania. The holder of the "With creativity" project is the Ministry of Culture, and it is being implemented, as they said, in cooperation with the National Tourism Organization, the regions of Pula, Molise and the Ministry of Tourism of Albania.
"The estimated value of the funds necessary for the reconstruction of the building is about 4 million, and the project envisages that about 1,5 million euros will be withdrawn from the program, while the rest of the funds will be provided from other sources, including the state budget," said the MKM. .
Tender until the end of June, works in autumn
As they stated, the reconstruction is planned in two phases, and they expect the tender for the first phase to be announced from April to June this year. They emphasized that the project lasts until the end of 2027 and that they expect the fortress to be in operation at the beginning of that year at the latest. If all the necessary conditions are met, they stated that they expect the work to begin in the fall.
They pointed out that, with the designer, they are considering revising the estimates and estimates from 2021, because market conditions are constantly changing, but that they do not expect any significant changes.
In addition to investing in infrastructure, reconstruction and equipment, MKM states that they will work on building a community of creative individuals and organizations, which will use the established creative hub after the renovation.
DON'T MISS IT
"After the reconstruction, the building will have facilities for residential stays of artists and creative entrepreneurs and the development of creativity and creative industries, especially in the field of multimedia art, as well as applied sculpture, graphics, photography and painting. After the reconstruction, the building will have established and equipped exhibition, presentation and accommodation units, office space and a common garden - a summer stage", announced the MKM.
They claim that Španjola will become a creative center that will be visible at the regional and European level, and that they will work with partners to promote the fortress and cultural tourism, which is certainly related to this locality. The part of the project related to the works on the fortress will be done, as they say, in cooperation with the Municipality of Herceg Novi. Memorandum on cooperation, minister Vujović and the first man of Herceg Novi Stevan Katic they signed during the last week. It is planned that the Municipality and MKM cooperate in all phases of the project and work together on the reconstruction, equipping and functioning of the fortress.
As they stated, the works will be carried out in accordance with the project documentation that received the necessary approvals, as well as with the main revised project for the reconstruction of Španjola, which received the approval of the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property on June 21, 2022.
The former prison is now in a bad state
Španjola was in operation until the beginning of the 20th century, and later during the Second World War it was also used as a prison.
According to the Request for a decision on the need to prepare an environmental impact assessment study for this project, which was prepared by the Ministry of Education in 2021, no major interventions have been made on the fortress since then, so it is generally in a bad condition. It is also stated that the area around the fortress is damaged by unplanned construction, especially due to the large number of residential buildings and houses.
In that document, it is pointed out that some of the buildings inside Španjola have completely collapsed, as well as that there were no archaeological investigations on this site.
Nowadays, the fortress is occasionally used as an alternative cultural scene, and in its interior there are rooms that once served as warehouses, barracks, accommodation, warehouses for weapons, a prison... In addition, it is written that all interventions are planned in accordance with regulations for protected cultural assets, that concrete will not be used during the renovation, and that all installed elements can be removed later. It is emphasized that ten parking spaces will be kept at the entrance to the fortress, while 17 people will be able to stay inside it, in eight rooms and apartments. A facility with a canteen, congress hall, offices, open stage, toilets...
In the area of Španjola, as it is written in this document, there is no fecal sewage network, so the building will be connected to a waste-sanitary water treatment device, after which the water will go into the absorption well. The cell phone tower with the base station, which is currently located on the southern plateau of the fortress, will also be relocated. When it comes to harmful effects on the natural environment, it is stated that there will be no large construction machines during this process, that noise will be negligible as well as dust, and that there will be no damage to the local vegetation.
Bonus video:
