The recovery of the Palacio del Rey Chico in Fuente Victoria is progressing thanks to a new investment of 48,000 euros granted by the Provincial Council of Almería. This direct subsidy to the Autonomous Local Entity will allow for the continuation of restoration works on this property, considered a key element of the historical, architectural, and ethnographic heritage of the area.
The president of the Provincial Council, José Antonio García Alcaina, highlighted the institution's commitment to preserving the provincial heritage. With this new contribution, the Provincial Council's investment in the Palacio del Rey Chico now totals 78,000 euros, adding to previous actions.
The works will focus on the partial restoration of the building's interior and staircase. Interventions will include debris removal, chipping away old plaster, repairing the staircase slab, and applying new interior finishes with natural hydraulic lime mortar. A new rustic stoneware flooring will also be installed, and the steps will be recovered with stoneware pieces and wooden nosings.
This project aims to restore this building, a heritage gem of the Alpujarra Almeriense, to conditions that allow for its future use. The current intervention follows up on a previous subsidy of 30,000 euros allocated for the roofing of the central porticoed courtyard, carried out in 2025 to protect the building's interior from weather damage.
The Palacio del Rey Chico, which has been publicly owned since 2018 after its acquisition by the Autonomous Local Entity of Fuente Victoria, has undergone various interventions for its consolidation and recovery, responding to a long-standing demand from residents and municipal officials.
This large property, with approximately 2,000 square meters of built area and a 2,500 square meter garden, reflects the economic boom of the Alpujarra Almeriense in the 18th century. Its architectural value is particularly evident in elements such as the classical main facade and the tower-viewpoint. Historically, it is associated with the residence of Don Juan de Austria and has served as an oil mill and a ham drying facility.
The recovery of the palace and its surroundings aims to enhance the tourist, cultural, and social appeal of Fuente Victoria, a town with just 300 inhabitants. The valorization of the building is expected to help retain population and boost the local economy, counteracting the risk of depopulation.
