Restoration of ancient Spanish castle debated amid criticism

Carlos Quevedo Rojas told The Associated Press that Matrera Castle in Villamartin was in danger of collapsing completely and that the restoration job was approved by regional cultural authorities.

The Spanish historical conservation association Hispania Nostra joined in by labeling the restoration "a disaster" and said it received messages of condemnation from outside the country.

Jose Maria Gutierrez Lopez, the director of Villamartin's History Museum, said town officials were happy with the result and attributed the criticism to public misunderstanding of Spanish cultural site restoration norms.