Work has at last started on the project to convert Ibiza's castle into a luxury hotel. The first stone was laid yesterday at a ceremony attended by politicians representing the city, island, Balearic and Spanish Governments.
This is a project that has been in the planning stage for many years – first mooted in 1989 – embroiled in bureaucratic red tape and delayed on several occasions and was due to be completed in 2009. Well, now it's up and running, they reckon that in 30 months Ibiza will have a 72 room Parador 'with the best views of all the Paradors in Spain.'
Consell boss, Xico Tarres described it as the 'icing on the cake' and Lurdes Costa, Mayoress of Ibiza, had a bit of a swipe at the Mallorcans, who've been accused of regarding Ibiza as a colony of the larger island, by pointing out that it will be the ONLY Parador in the Balearics.
Interestingly, of all Spain's 13 World Heritage cities, Ibiza is the only one that does not have its own Parador. There's a great deal of satisfaction amongst all parties that this link in the chain is now closed.
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