Project

REHABILITATION OF SANCTI-PETRI CASTLE. SPAIN

CLIENT SPANISH MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT
SERVICE Preliminary studies, detail design and works environment
LOCATION Cadiz, Spain
CONTRACTOR ACCIONA - FREYSSINET

Sancti-Petri islet and fortress is located in the south of San Fernando, at the mouth of Caño de Sancti-Petri in the Bay of Cádiz. Historians place the legendary temple of Hercules in this area, rich in archeological interest due to the numerous discoveries that have been found at the site throughout the past century.

Rehabilitation project and works have been strongly influenced by cultural and environmental factors (the site is located in Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, the surroundings are inhabited by vulnerable birds, it was declared Site of Cultural Interest, there are archaeological remains), sea conditions (complex access and need for marine protection works), and conditioning factors related to structural behavior and materials used (construction techniques, durability of materials in aggressive environments).

Rehabilitation works were focused on repairing damages, recovering the castle’s original appearance from the end of the 18th century. All structural elements needed to ensure stability and persistence were thus recovered. Simultaneously, marine protection works were executed, providing this emblematic site with a new pier that facilitates access to visitors and maintenance operators. All designed and implemented operations have been executed by means of traditional materials and construction techniques in order to preserve the original stiffness and transpiration conditions. The pier was the only element built with modern materials.