Clara San Damián, the territorial delegate of Castilla and León Government in Zamora, Fernando García, the chairman of Fundación Iberdrola España and the administrator of the diocese responsible for heritage in Zamora, José Ángel Rivera, visited the works that are being undertaken in San Juan de Puerta Nueva and San Vicente churches in Zamora, within the Atlantic Romanesque Plan, promoted by said entities.
This public-private initiative involving institutional cooperation is not only focused on restoring and recovering monuments, but it is also targeted at showcasing the territory by promoting sustainable and smart management of heritage assets.
During the visit, which started in San Vicente church, they were accompanied by the project’s manager, Jesús Castillo from Fundación Santa María la Real, and the representative of Iberdrola in Castilla and León, Miguel Calvo. The Atlantic Romanesque intervention is focused on the tower of the building; along with the cathedral it is one of the most emblematic Romanesque monuments in Zamora.
Several aspects have been considered during the works. The first step to be undertaken was the removal of the storks’ nest. Afterwards, the roof was restored and both the wooden and the slate stabs, which were in poor condition, were substituted and consolidated. A waterproof plate was installed to protect the area. The walls were cleaned and consolidated by removing dirt and vegetation. In the tower, cracks and fissures were grouted with lime mortar and the edges and levels were rearranged inserting stones and repair mortar.
The belfry was also protected from birds by setting a net in the tower spans, preventing birds from entering, without hindering aeration. Works have been completed with the cleaning and consolidation both of the historical pavement and the spiral staircase, as well the installation of more efficient lightning in line with the Romanesque building.
San Juan de Puerta Nueva
San Juan Bautista church is located a few metres away. It is also of medieval origin, although it has undergone several renovation works throughout time. The works here focused on the southern façade of the building, presenting tripartite structure with lateral apsidiole, body of naves and a small tower at the foot.
Works involve the cleaning and consolidation of facings, replacement of lost stone elements, restoration of both the roof and historical pavements, as well as the protection of the building’s spans.
Several previous studies and tests were carried out so as to verify the adequacy of the treatments and to develop them in a respectful way in relation to the building and the surroundings, according to reversibility and minimum intervention standards.
Atlantic Romanesque Plan
The Atlantic Romanesque Plan is a cross-border cooperation initiative for the conservation of cultural heritage, involving the restoration and revitalisation of twenty Romanesque churches located in the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca in Spain, and in the regions of Oporto, Vila real and Bragança in Portugal. It is an example of institutional cooperation and public-private participation, promoted by Castilla and León Government, Fundación Iberdrola España and the Ministry of Culture in Portugal.
It is important to remember that several works had previously been carried out in Zamora in the remit of the Atlantic Romanesque Plan. Specifically in the Visigoth church of San Pedro de la Nave in San Martín de Castañeda; in Santa María Magdalena church in Cozcurrita; in San Juan church in Fermoselle; in the walls of Santa Eulalia church in Muga de Alba; in Nuestra Señora del Carrasco church in Pinilla de Fermoselle; in Nuestra Señora de la Asunción church in Pobladura de Aliste; in Santa Marina church in Sejas de Sanabria; and in the frescoes of the Ermita de Fernandiel in Muga de Sayago.
