Tombstone found during Casa Bolufer renovation project
The iconic building will be renovated to become a 20-room hotel with restaurant, spa and gym.
The archaeological study being carried out in the iconic Casa Bolufer in the heart of the historic centre of Xàbia prior to its renovation has uncovered a tombstone dating from the 18th century.
The rectangular piece of tosca stone, measuring 72cm high by 66cm wide, has an inscription that reads ‘AQUÍ YACE CARLOS TRILLES / MURIÓ EL DÍA / 18 DE AGOSTO / AÑO 176?’ (the last number is illegible).
Municipal archaeologist Ximo Bolufer explained that, after consulting the heraldry work on Xàbia carried out by Barón de San Petrillo, it has been confirmed that Carlos Trilles i Andrés was born in 1724 but the date of his death was not recorded. However, the entry does provide information about the Trilles family and it notes that they had two tombs in the church of San Bartolomé, one located at the front of the chapel dedicated to Mare de Déu del Rosario and the other, made for Carlos Trilles, located in the centre of the building.
Bolufer added that the resurfacing carried out inside the church in 1884 covered up or destroyed many tombs and, in some cases such as this one, the tombstones were removed and reused in other constructions.
Once the archaeological project is complete, the building will be renovated and remodelled under the direction of interior designer Carlos Serra to become a new hotel Casa Joaquina with twenty rooms, restaurant, spa and gym, scheduled to open in the summer of 2025.
