Castellón's El Fadrí Reopens with New Illuminated Handrail

The Bell Tower installs a safety upgrade to improve visitor access to its five floors.

Generic image of an interior spiral staircase with a new illuminated handrail.
IA

Generic image of an interior spiral staircase with a new illuminated handrail.

The Bell Tower, known as El Fadrí, will reopen in the coming days in Castellón following the installation of a new LED-illuminated handrail on its interior staircase, an upgrade aimed at improving visitor safety.

The Mayoress of Castellón, Begoña Carrasco, accompanied by the Councilor for Infrastructure and Urban Services, Sergio Toledo, the Councilor for Culture, María España, the Director of the Museu de la Ciutat de Castelló, Ana Meseguer, and the municipal architect Pilar Albert, visited the monument to inspect the completed work.
Carrasco emphasized the importance of investing in the city's symbols, stating that the City Council continues to "enhance and restore the heritage of Castellón's residents." The "much-requested" intervention addresses the need for adequate support and lighting on the spiral staircase.
The project, with a budget of nearly 30,000 euros and a two-month execution period, involved installing a 196-meter-long handrail with LED lighting along the spiral staircase, which comprises 192 steps and previously suffered from limited natural light.
Municipal architect Pilar Albert described the work as "simple" and noted that it improves access throughout the interior staircase connecting the building's five accessible floors, while respecting the monument's original characteristics.
Carrasco also announced upcoming larger-scale projects to address detected roof leaks, protect the spire, and prevent damage to the bells, with an estimated budget of around 95,000 euros. These future works will require prior authorization from the relevant cultural heritage department.
The leaks reportedly affect the bell chamber area, potentially damaging the yokes and the former bell-ringer's dwelling. Measures are also planned for the wooden spire and to deter pigeon nesting.
The Bell Tower, El Fadrí, serves as a permanent venue for the Museu de la Ciutat de Castelló and is one of the city's most visited monuments. It was constructed in the late 16th century and features an octagonal base.