La gestión municipal de los castillos valencianos. Análisis de los casos de Callosa de Segura, Castalla, Cocentaina, Guardamar del Segura, Monòver, Pego y Sax (provincia de Alicante)

[EN] Valencian castles have been the subject of research and have undergone multiple architectural interventions, which have allowed getting an understanding of them, improving their condition, and restoring them. However, it should be noted a lack of research addressing their management. A PhD thesis project has been carried out since 2013 aiming at comprehending how the city councils of Alicante province run their fortifications. The methodology used consists of qualitative research and semi-structured interviews with experts (municipal technicians). Since the project is still ongoing, for the time being only preliminary results of the analysis of one of the 8 groups into which castles have been divided, specifically those belonging to group 4, will be published. This group of fortifications, located in cities with populations that range between 10,000 and 20,000, is comprised of Ambra (Pego), Callosa de Segura, Castalla, Cocentaina, Guardamar del Segura, Monòver, Penella (Cocentaina) and Sax castles.