VIA DE LA PLATA PROJECT IN EXTREMADURA
ALBA PLATA PROJECT I:

Origins and History

The Project Via de la Plata - Extremadura, commonly known as Alba Plata Project, consists of 34 subprojects, focusing on the rehabilitation, protection, restoration and marking a total of 31 resources located at different localities along the historic Via de la Plata and improved access to the Monastery of Guadalupe, a historic enclave about 100 km. east of the route.

The main objectives of this initiative are the stimulation of equity, social, environmental, tourism and economic development of the region. An essential aspect of the project is that it will create a common identity of "one product" for Via de la Plata, coordinating all project results and encouraging visitors to discover the whole route, segmenting the different contents and deriving the common concept of identity. This route is not being promoted only for its rich cultural and architectural, but also for its ecological importance.

The start of the project involves improving understanding of the historical and new route opportunities being offered in terms of economic and cultural development, both within the region as well as in other autonomous communities by  which the road cross.

The development of the project "Vía de la Plata-Extremadura" begins in 1996 when a multidisciplinary team consisting of a total of thirty people specializing in different subjects and coordinated by professionals at the University of Extremadura and the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Extremadura, all come together to raise the need to define the Extremadura heritage around the Via de la Plata.

After extensive negotiations and assessment phases throughout 1996, the formal approval of the project takes place in October next year. The Convention was signed on October 27, 1997 by Deparments mentioned above and on November 1, 1997, by the European Investment Bank. Following an initial startup phase consisting of the project's integration within the regional administrative system, the preparatory work and initial design of each subproject began in mid-1998.

Financial assistance to carry out the Project Via de la Plata-Extremadura  is  established through a grant from the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area, with the agreement signed between the European Investment Bank and Autonomous Community of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura) on the proposal and with the agreement of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kingdom of Spain, whose total investment was around 19,666,318.08 EUR (3,272,200,000 .- Pesetas), corresponding to approximately 79.5% funding under the Financial Mechanism.

While the technical aspects were developed by the Ministry of Culture, financial issues were coordinated by two departments: Deparment of Cultural Heritage and Deparment of Economic and Financial Policy - given that this one is responsible for all financial matters affecting to Junta de Extremadura.

Interventions

The sub-projects or interventions that make up the Via de la Plata Project - Extremadura can be articulated in two levels: regional and local levels.

Interventions that affect the whole region are those involving the adaptation of the route and study of their bridges, while local actions are classified as Heritage, Information Centre and tourist hostel.

Adapting the work of the Milky consist of a adaptation, planning, signaling and environmental and territorial protection of the roman pave road (Via de la Plata) in Extremadura and its environment.To this end, we propose the establishment of a competition of ideas through which to determine the best team for the development of this assignment.

The contents of these works include:

  • Redaction a proposal for regional planning of the layout of the route and its surroundings, with a level of protection appropriate to a particular plan.
  • Proposal for cleaning, excavation, consolidation and interpretation of the Roman paved road.
  • Proposal for adaption of the road and its environment to achieve the running of this one with proposal for: rest areas, improvement of the environmental and infrastructure supporting the path.
  • One proposal is the design of the signalling elementes of the route, the environment and environmental heritage, as well as travel support furniture.
  • Proposal on legal and administrative treatment of conservation and achive the runnig of the route  and the properties by which it travels.
  • Proposal for the management of their resources and tourism exploitation and dissemination of the Roman road and its environment.

The Study of Bridges of the Via de la Plata meets the Convention drawn up between the Ministry of Culture and the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works.

The purpose of this study is based on the performance of studies necessary to permit development of a comprehensive document through which future actions of restoration can be performed, repair and strengthening the bridges of the route.

Moreover, within the sub-projects that affect local area, Heritage Proceedings are those designed to recover all or part of a heritage resource in a state of deterioration, to prevent its degradation over time. These interventions are not likely to generate economic returns, it is not possible to establish an alternative use the resource, so it is strictly based on cultural and economic criteria.

The actions referred to in the Draft Heritage Via de la Plata - Extremadura are:

  • Rehabilitation and upgrading of Hermitage of San Antonio in Villar de Plasencia (Cáceres).
  • Excavation, consolidation and adaptation of the fortress, Montemolín (Badajoz).
  • Construction of public parking areas, Guadalupe (Cáceres).
  • Adaptation of the passage of round, consolidation of the wall and the apse Mudejar  Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Galisteo (Cáceres).
  • Consolidation and adaptation of the castle, Mirabel (Cáceres).
  • Consolidation and adaptation of Marmionda Castle, Portezuelo (Cáceres).
  • Excavation and consolidation of Roman villa, Monroy (Cáceres).
  • Cultural Hall in the Convent of San Francisco, Arroyo de la Luz (Cáceres).
  • Study, photogrammetry and consolidation of the Aqueduct of Los Milagros, Mérida (Badajoz)..
  • Excavation, consolidation and adaptation of site of Hornachuelos, Ribera del Fresno (Badajoz).
  • Consolidation and alignment of the castle, Medina de las Torres (Badajoz).
  • Creation of the Archive of the Ducal House of Medinaceli, Feria (Badajoz).
  • Excavation, consolidation and adaptation of the site of Los Castillejos II, Fuente de Cantos (Badajoz).

We distinguish two levels of Lecture Centrers: General Performance Centers of Via de la Plata and Thematic Lecture Centres. Also at the local level, but this time within interventions with direct relevance in the market structure that is intended to consolidate this initiative.

General Performance Centers of Via de la Plata are direct references to the traveler, becoming points of information and consultation on those aspects of the road, route, alternative tourism resources, facilities. They are located at the entrances and exits of the Autonomous Community (Baños de Montemayor, Cáceres and Monesterio in Badajoz), as well as the heart of the region (Merida).

These centres are organized in a similar way, adapting to the logical factors of the type of structure where they are located and with identical types of interpretive resources and messages. The obvious differences between them are the result of the different designs of these resources and their distribution, which in turn are the result of adaptation of these messages and resources to spaces and architectural solutions for each building.

And, as a complement to these thematic units, where the main protagonist is the Roman road of Via de la Plata, other Information Centre where the contents are specific to each of them. This is the thematic interpretation centers and are classified as:

  • Lecture centre, excavation, consolidation and adaptation of the Roman city of Caparra, Oliva de Plasencia and Guijo de Granadilla (Cáceres).
  • Lecture Centre of the medieval city of Plasencia (Cáceres).
  • Lecture Centrer, excavation, site consolidation and adaptation of the Roman camp Old Cáceres (Cáceres).
  • Lecture Centre in the mining complex of Aldea Moret (Cáceres).
  • Lecture Centrer, excavation, consolidation and adaptation of the Roman cirque, Mérida (Badajoz).
  • Lecture Centre of the historic centers of Extremadura, Zafra (Badajoz).
  • Lecture Centre of architecture popular in Extremadura, Burguillos del Cerro (Badajoz).
  • Lecture Centre of the painter Zurbarán, Fuente de Cantos (Badajoz).

We close the section of local level interventions, with tourist hostels, establishment mentioned in Law 2 / 1997 of March 20, Extremadura Tourism and subsequently regulated by Decree 54/200 of 8 March.

Tourist lodges are those establishments that meet the provisions in the decree, as usual, professional and by price, hosting services are provided primarily in shared rooms with or without additional services. They should offer the opportunity to practice additional tourist activities such as sports, environmental, cultural, free time or leisure.

This figure of tourist accommodation has become the benchmark of all the establishments of te Project that offers this kind of service, with a very varied types, determined by the architectural structure itself where they are located.

However, their criteria for quality and service are identical, considering the uniqueness of product noted above

The tourist hostels developed in the framework of  Via de la Plata, are distributed in the following locations:

  • Baños de Montemayor - 12 seats (Cáceres).
  • Hervas - 21 seats (Cáceres).
  • Oliva de Plasencia - 15 seats (Cáceres).
  • Garrovillas of Alconétar - 26 places (Cáceres).
  • Torremejía - 23 seats (Badajoz).
  • Villafranca de los Barros - 24 seats (Badajoz).
  • Zafra - 20 seats (Badajoz).
  • Puebla de Sancho Pérez - 18 seats (Badajoz).
  • Fuente de Cantos - 20 seats (Badajoz).

 Total No. of seats: 179 seats

Effects

The implementation, development and subsequent acceptance of this project, by all the agents and participantas, direct and indirect, will enable the region to have physical elements of sustainability of the road and all its infrastructure, in a determined attempt to articulate the territory of Extremadura and constitute this axis as an attraction and emitting focus of the Community.

Much of the regional development is based on the success of this initiative, through which not only will increase the number of visitors, but shall function as the distinguishing feature of the rest of the bid, offering an image of innovation and quality, reporting a prominent place in national and international markets.

And, while the start-up of many of the interventions carried out from this project, will enable the early development of a market structure that, according to consolidate and finalize the other interventions, is able to promote and encourage fabric of the region, ensuring the continuity and survival of the variables needed to configure the Via de la Plata as a tourism- cultural product  and the region of Extremadura as the focus of socio - economic development.

Analyzing in detail the relationship of jobs affected by this program, we distinguish two categories: direct contracting and indirect contracting.

Direct Contracting

Technicians and personnel of the Office of Management Alba Plata.


Scientific Advisors.
Architects.
Technical Architects.
Archaeologists.
Construction companies.
Companies interpretation.
Furniture equipment companies.
Business equipment industrial machinery.
Signaling firms.

Indirect Procurement

Writers Project Teams.
Companies Archaeology / Archaeologists.
Surveyors.
Illustrators.
Museologists.
Restorers.
Historians.
Engineers.
Several freelancers.
Utilities.
Others.

Roughly, the Project implementation has to make posible the support of more than hundred jobs directly and indirectly, as they continue to develop the different interventions will increase their total.

The definition of products and resources is clear. On the one hand, we have the main product "Vía de la Plata" and peripheral products developed under this Program, visited heritage, tourist hostels, interpretive centers, shops, catering services and information.

On the other hand, exist in the market a series of complementary products, consolidated or under development, framed by the sub-housing, transportation, food, nature, infrastructure and services. Comprehensive development is defined by the interaction of these products and resources,  its consolidation in the market and adapting to changing trends in tourism demand. Thus, the criteria of quality and innovation is a fundamental tool of all the proposed structure, only valid elements to ensure success and survival of one such initiative

Extremadura has a privileged element in this area, the resource that can enable consolidation and cultural tourism: the Via de la Plata..