The Ilumina Project, officially presented at the Campo Maior Bulwarked Fortification Interpretative Centre on 9 October 2024, aims to revitalise night-time cultural tourism in the EUROACE Euroregion, which includes Extremadura and Alentejo. With a focus on sustainability and local development, the initiative will illuminate three iconic monuments: the Castle of Ouguela in Portugal, the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Carrión, and the Castle of Valencia de Alcántara in Spain, creating a Night-time Cultural Tourism Destination that will attract visitors year-round.
A cross-border alliance to revitalise night-time tourism
The Ilumina Project Boosts Night-time Cultural Tourism in Extremadura and Alentejo
The launch event was attended by prominent representatives, including the Campo Maior City Council, the Brotherhood of Nuestra Señora de Carrión, the Iberdrola España Foundation, and the Directorate-General of Tourism of Extremadura, who emphasised the importance of this initiative for both regions. In his speech, Ramón Castresana, director of the Iberdrola España Foundation, highlighted the significance of this project in promoting heritage and culture, while José Santos, president of the Alentejo Regional Tourism Entity, underlined Ilumina’s potential to position the Euroregion as an attractive and innovative destination for night-time cultural tourism.
Jesús Viñuales, Director-General of Tourism for Extremadura, highlighted the value this initiative brings to the Spanish side of the border, emphasising the importance of protecting and enhancing the region’s vast historical heritage. Vítor Silva, President of the Alentejo Regional Tourism Promotion Agency, stressed the international significance of the Ilumina Project, noting that the illumination of the monuments will position Alentejo and Extremadura as top-tier tourist destinations, attracting international visitors with a sustainable and authentic cultural offering. Additionally, María José García Curto, President of the Extremadura Tourism Cluster, emphasised cross-border cooperation as one of the project’s fundamental pillars, with the creation of a new joint brand to strengthen the international promotion of these destinations.
The Ilumina Project, co-financed by the European Union’s Interreg POCTEP 2021-2027 programme, aims not only to beautify and preserve the region’s cultural heritage but also to stimulate the economic and social development of rural areas, helping to combat depopulation. The total budget for the project is €1.74 million, and it is expected to be completed by June 2026, following the illumination of the monuments and the promotion of new tourist experiences focused on the shared history and heritage between Spain and Portugal.
The event concluded with a visit to the Governor’s House in Ouguela Castle, where a collaboration agreement was signed with Campo Maior City Council to formalise the commitment to illuminate this important monument and strengthen the region’s tourism development.
