THE Military Museum Board of Minorca has put forward proposals for next year to restore the Princess tower on the fortress in Mahon but only if it can secure 300'000 euros in funding from Central Government's Culture ministry.
The so-called Torre de la Princesa is one of the only features of the hill fortress (La Mola) in Mahon whose construction predates the fort itself. It was built by the British during their third period of domonation in Minorca (1798-1802), and up until the middle of the last century it had remained in an excellent state of repair. But in 1958, it was struck by lightening and has gradually been deteriorating into a ruin. Francisco Riva, President of the Museum Board said that he realised it was going to be difficult to get the money next year given budget cutbacks at both a regional and national level. The Board has other projects which need funding at the same time - these include electrically rewiring the fort's interior and that of Sant Felip castle in Es Castell. The Board also wants to create rest and study areas in the fortress in Mahon, but knows that in-house funding will need to be used.