Wrangling continues over historic Denia site in the Costa Blanca

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: Denia’s past lies in the Hort de Morand

DENIA’S mayor, Jaume Grimalt will negotiate with Hort de Morand’s owners to clear the way for Denia’s future archaeological park.

“We shall sit down and talk in a few days’ time,” Grimalt declared recently.

Archaeologists are convinced that this privately-owned land which contains Denia’s principal Roman ruins can reveal the history of Dianium between 20BC and the end of the Sixth Century AD.

Once the 24,000-square metre plot is municipally-owned, it would be possible to negotiate with the different administrations for funding to continue the excavations that began in 1984, Grimalt said.

The principal problem is how Denia town hall can acquire the land owned by the Merle family who initially maintained that it was worth €28 million when, years ago, the town hall of the day issued a compulsory purchase order.

After long-drawn-out legal proceedings, the owners and the town hall reduced this to €13 million but Grimalt has already made clear that the municipality “does not have that kind of money.”

The mayor is nevertheless convinced that a solution can be found.

“There is goodwill on both sides because we both agree that something has to be done,” Grimalt said recently.

Photo credit: denia.com