When we talk about urban lighting, we are not only referring to public lighting but also to all architectural lighting that encompasses monuments, buildings, bridges, and other elements that contribute to the identification and beautification of a city. Proper lighting of these spaces enhances their aesthetics and historical identity, improves the visual experience for citizens, and enhances the cultural heritage of the area.

RESTORING THE MAGIC TO A HISTORIC BUILDING

Declared a Cultural Heritage of National Interest, Altafulla Castle is a historic fortress from the 11th century characterized by architecture that combines Romanesque and Gothic elements typical of the medieval period. In the 17th century, a renovation was carried out that modified a significant part of its structure, although the irregular polygonal layout, the corner towers, and the inner courtyard were preserved, which still showcases a magnificent Renaissance gallery.

Despite being one of the symbols of this coastal municipality, the castle was inefficiently iluminated with a mix of technologies and color temperatures.

With the aim of unifying the lighting system, beautifying the monument, and achieving greater energy efficiency and savings, the Altafulla Town Hall decided to modernize the lighting and convert the mixture of sodium vapor and metal halide lamps to LED.

The chosen solution was the MIKOS projector by Carandini, designed to adapt to any urban space, creating pleasant areas for people. This projector features an elegant and simple aesthetic, along with a wide variety of optical distributions. Furthermore, a uniform color temperature of 2200K was established, providing warm light that contributes to environmental preservation.

Taking advantage of this intervention, Carandini also illuminated the areas surrounding the Castle, including entrances, the main gate, adjacent streets, and outdoor gardens. In this case, the selected product was the VEKA road luminaire.

In line with the clear goal of promoting energy savings, the installation was completed with the placement of a timer in the control panel, programmed to automatically turn off the lighting at midnight.

ACHIEVED RESULTS

The new lighting of Altafulla Castle has allowed us to highlight the architectural details of its towers, walls, and internal structures, creating a magical and evocative atmosphere, as well as reclaiming the municipal identity visible from nearby villages. Different technologies have also been unified with LEDs and color temperatures, resulting in an energy savings of nearly 50%.

The combination of the historic architecture of this fortress, combined with the new lighting, has turned this castle into an iconic symbol of Altafulla and a unique tourist attraction both day and night.