The urban skyline of Cuevas del Almanzora has seen a significant change this week with the partial demolition of the tower of the Church of San Francisco. This measure, carried out by the Bishopric, was presented as an “extreme urgency measure” due to the advanced structural deterioration of the building and the risk of collapse indicated by technicians.
A technical report prepared by the architect of the Bishopric of Almería detailed that the tower posed an “imminent collapse threat,” endangering both passersby and residents of Convento Street. The situation had become critical after years of uncertainty, particularly following seismic movements recorded in July 2025. The document also stated that the structure was already shored up at its base and that any horizontal movement could lead to an “uncontrolled collapse.”
“"It is not pleasant to demolish part of a historic building, but the absolute priority is people's safety."
The partial demolition has been deemed the only “necessary way to rebuild the element in the future.” Although the City Council had previously attempted to rescue the building with projects such as the School of Music auditorium in 2017 or the City of Music in 2022 with Next Generation funds, these interventions could not be carried out as the building was not municipally owned, a prerequisite for accessing public funding.
This emergency intervention aims to resolve the temple's “state of ruin.” Once the risk of uncontrolled accidents is eliminated, the Bishopric and the City Council will be able to agree on a future transfer and apply for the necessary funding for a comprehensive restoration, with the goal of transforming the Church of San Francisco into a “cultural reference space” for the community.
