Manilva Town Hall accepts blame for the earthworks carried out in the area surrounding the Castillo’s BIC (Site of Cultural Interest). After denying irregularities in its handling of the matter at a press conference, it has ended up paying the fine and accepting responsibility. A municipal resolution confirms the infringement and the payment of €9,000, even though the governing team publicly defended its actions days after this newsroom revealed the opening of the case file.
Manilva Town Hall has ended up officially acknowledging its responsibility for the works carried out without authorisation in the area surrounding the Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC, Site of Cultural Interest) of the Castillo de la Duquesa, and has paid the fine imposed by the Junta de Andalucía. This comes after it held a press conference in which it tried to play down the events and divert attention to a different plot of land, accusing the media of acting out of self-interest, where, according to the mayor, there was an attempt to «confuse the public and public opinion.»
The mayor’s resolution expressly acknowledges the Town Hall’s responsibility for approving execution orders for the clearing and brush removal of a plot within the protected area around the Castillo, without the prior authorisation of the cultural authority. The proposed fine was €15,000, although the Town Hall opted for voluntary payment with a 40% reduction.
Subsequently, on 18 December 2025, the mayor himself signed the payment order for the reduced fine, which finally came to €9,000, paid to the Junta de Andalucía.
From public denial to official acknowledgement
The events go back to the execution orders issued by the Town Hall on 26 March and 5 May 2025 for the clearing of a plot located within the archaeological area of the Castillo de la Duquesa, where the mayor signed the relevant authorisations for the plot’s owner after approval from municipal technicians. According to the Regional Ministry of Culture, those works caused earth movements that affected archaeological remains.
On 14 October 2025, this newsroom reported that the Junta had opened disciplinary proceedings against the Town Hall for acting without prior authorisation. The regional minister for Culture herself described the case as «regrettable» and noted that this type of situation arises when the relevant permits are not requested.
Six days later, on 20 October, the governing team called a press conference to «shed light» on the matter. At it, the mayor claimed that an attempt was being made to «confuse the public» and focused his speech on distinguishing between two separate plots within the BIC area, showing at the press conference specific plans of the place where the archaeological remains had been found in an attempt to clarify the situation, something that angered even further the people who watch over and protect the cultural heritage.
The Town Hall then argued that its actions were aimed at «protecting heritage and avoiding risks» (by making its situation known), insisting that it had cooperated with the Junta and that information was being mixed up for self-interested reasons.
The final resolution contradicts the official line
However, the subsequent documentation completely undermines the version given by the Town Hall itself, in which the mayor’s office expressly acknowledges the Town Hall’s responsibility for having approved the execution orders without prior cultural authorisation, exactly the reason why the Junta opened the disciplinary proceedings.
In other words, while it was publicly claimed that there had been no irregularities and attempts were made to shift the focus to another plot, the Town Hall itself has ended up admitting the infringement and accepting payment of the corresponding fine.
Discounted payment and «good management»
The episode closed on 18 December 2025, when the mayor ordered payment of the reduced fine of €9,000 thanks to the «prompt payment» system, which lowered the initial fine of €15,000.
In view of the facts, the question now is whether the Town Hall will call another press conference to explain to the public this «successful financial management», which has saved the municipal coffers €6,000 through «prompt payment»… after officially acknowledging an infringement in a protected archaeological area. If there was an appearance to deny the facts, perhaps there should be another to celebrate the discount.
Press conference:
