New Light, Old Questions: What Does the Lighting of Sant Salvador Really Cost?

New Light, Old Questions: Sant Salvador Between Shine and the Bill

If you drive up the Puig de Sant Salvador in the early evening, the air smells of pine needles, roasted chestnuts from a nearby bar and the soft hum of engines from walkers still trying to get up quickly. Lately, another detail stands out: the steps to the monastery look different. Not only brighter, but also more purposeful — with a new LED system that stages the historic site. The municipality speaks of costs of €420,000. The project is finished, the lamps are on — and still the guiding question remains: Was this the right priority?

More Than Just Bulbs: What Was Done?

The old floodlight technology is out; a control system, dimmable luminaires and colour accents are in. Practically: the system can be time-programmed, with discreet colours possible for processions or community festivals, while warm tones dominate on ordinary evenings. In practice this means: lower electricity consumption, less maintenance, and the architecture becomes more visible. For many older residents who read their newspaper here in the evening, it is a real plus. For young people who drop by on skateboards, and for photographers chasing the sunset, even more so.

The Other Side of the Bill

€420,000 for exterior lighting — that initially seems high. Critics would have preferred investments in toilets at the hiking car park, maintenance of other monuments or more urgent infrastructure. The debate is not just about money but also about prioritisation: modernising a highly visible landmark brings image, tourism benefits and a safety boost. On the other hand, mobile, everyday improvements for residents who don't walk the Puig in the evenings are often missing.

Technically there are arguments in favour of the investment: LEDs typically consume significantly less energy than older spotlights and have longer lifetimes. Less replacement means fewer connection failures and lower follow-up costs. But such savings do not automatically equal a positive municipal budget outcome. Crucial is how the costs were financed — municipal reserves, grants, loans — and whether there is a transparent comparison of investment costs and expected savings.

What Often Gets Lost in Public Debate

Three points surprisingly carry little weight in the public discussion: light pollution, protection of wildlife and long-term operational follow-up costs. The monastery stands on a hill; wind directions and nocturnal animal pathways are relevant here. Intense lighting can disturb bats and nocturnal birds if warm-white, shielded luminaires and appropriate orientation are not used. Equally important: who controls the system — is it automatically dimmed with low visitor numbers? Such details decide whether the system is truly efficient or just looks smart.

Concrete Opportunities and Solutions

The good news: many criticisms can be mitigated technically and organisationally. Suggestions that Artà could now pursue:

1. Transparency report: Disclose how the €420,000 was distributed (planning, materials, labour, control and electrical systems). An annual efficiency report with real consumption figures would build trust.

2. Reinvestment mechanism: Dedicate part of the saved operating costs to local infrastructure (toilets at the hiking car park, conservation of smaller monuments) through earmarked funds.

3. Biodiversity checks: Monitor nocturnal species and, if necessary, adjust colour temperature and lighting times. Shielding the luminaires prevents stray light from spilling into the valley.

4. Community control: Use the lighting purposefully for festivals or processions; for everyday life an energy-saving dimmed mode is sufficient. A small local citizens' jury would also make sense to co-decide on special lighting occasions.

Conclusion: An Attraction with Homework

The Sant Salvador monastery now wears a modern evening-light outfit that fits well: restrained, yet effective. The majority of residents seem to welcome the new lighting — it makes walking up and down safer and gives the place an identity at night. But the view of costs, ecology and reallocation of public funds should not end when the lamps are switched on. Those who spend €420,000 owe the community comprehensible figures, regular evaluations and a plan for how monument conservation and everyday needs of residents can be reconciled in the long term.

And next time you drive up the Puig: enjoy the warm tones, listen to the distant church bells and the conversations of older neighbours. But also pay attention to the small sign with the annual consumption — it may reveal more than the beauty of the moment.