Elche presents the Torre de Ressemblanc project. Credit: Ayuntamiento de Elche.
One of Elche’s historic defensive landmarks is set for a major restoration aimed at preserving more than four centuries of local history. The €250,042 project will restore the Torre de Ressemblanc, which once helped defend the area against Barbary raiders, with plans ultimately allowing the protected tower to open to visitors.
€250,042 restoration project approved
Elche is preparing to restore the Torre de Ressemblanc, a defensive structure more than 400 years old that once helped protect the area against attacks by Barbary raiders.
Mayor Pablo Ruz announced that the Local Government Board has approved the €250,042 restoration project for the historic tower, which is protected as a Site of Cultural Interest and forms part of the heritage surrounding Elche’s Palmeral.
The next stage will be the tendering process, with work expected to begin during the first quarter of 2027 and take around a year to complete.
Historic walls and facades will be repaired
Plans include consolidating walls, repairing cracks, removing vegetation, cleaning the facades and restoring damaged sections while respecting the tower’s original materials and construction techniques.
The work is intended to address deterioration while retaining the historic character of the building and protecting its surviving architectural features.
Historic elements will also be recovered as part of the project, including the Santacilia family coat of arms, stone corbels and the wooden pinnacle of the dome.
Original tower features will be recovered
The roof will be restored and the original red colour of the spiral staircase dome reinstated.
Inside, work will tackle damp, repair wooden structures, replace carpentry and modernise electrical installations.
Exterior decorative lighting will also be added, helping to highlight the historic building and its architectural features after dark.
Restored tower will eventually welcome visitors
The project ultimately aims to open the Torre de Ressemblanc to visitors, giving the public an opportunity to discover a building that has stood for more than 400 years.
Museum displays are planned to explain the history of the tower and its role in the area, adding a new heritage attraction connected to the landscape surrounding Elche’s Palmeral.
With work expected to begin in early 2027 and last around a year, the restoration will combine conservation of the historic structure with preparations for its future use as a visitor attraction.