Maritime Authority to Cede Use of the
Ribadesella Lighthouse to the Public

Possible Use as Museum for New Ocean Preserve?


Source: El Comercio, Juan García, July 28, 2007

The Maritime Authority of Gijón has announced that in September they will hand over the Ribadesella Lighthouse to the local government for as yet unspecified use. The lighthouse perched high on the cliffs of Tereñes immediately to the west of Ribadesella and its surrounding 100,000 sq.ft. of ocean front gardens have until this time been off-limits and closed to the public. The Maritime Authority has completely automated the lighthouse and seeks to save money by handing over the building, which is in need of repairs, and the maintenance of the extensive grounds, to the city administration. Plans are being put forward to locate the new museum for the El Cachucho Maritime Reserve in the building. The El Cachucho is an undersea crater off the coast of Ribadesella, beyond Spanish territorial waters, that has been declared an international maritime preserve. Plans for the museum would include a restaurant with panoramic views. However there are also discussions afoot to put the museum in the former Consumers Protection Building out on the point at the entrance to Ribadesella harbor. Advocates of that plan point out that if the museum were put there it could include public restrooms which are entirely lacking on that end of town.