The initiative is framed in the project, promoted by the Junta de Castilla y León, the Fundación Iberdrola and the Direção Regional de Cultura do Norte da Secretaria de Estado da Cultura de Portugal, through which, since 2011, the study, investigation, conservation and restoration of 24 romanesque churches, including their surroundings and contents, located in the northern region of Portugal and in the ocidental region of Castilla y León, in the provinces of Salamanca and Zamora, have been developed.
The now restored church has suffered in the past the urgent and unavoidable need of a new roof structure, and because of it it was deformed, to the point that its stability was at stake. The water infiltration in the referenced roof was causing severe damage to the altars and mural paintings. Therefore, the works of installing new electricity, communications and safety infrastructures were performed.
At the inauguration, the Diretor Regional da Cultura do Norte, António Ponte; the Presidente da Assembleia de Boticas, Fernando Queiroga; the Diretor Geral de Património Cultural da Junta de Castilla y León, Enrique Saiz and the Diretor da Fundación Iberdrola, Rafael Landin were present.
The Ministry of Culture of Portugal, the Junta de Castilla y León and the Fundación Iberdrola have signed in September of 2010, an agreement to perform an ambitious restoration and maintenance project that includes over 20 romanesque churches located in the Spanish provinces of Zamora and Salamanca and in the Portuguese regions of Porto, Vila Real and Bragança, located in the proximities of the rivers Douro and Tâmega.
With this joint intervention initiative called Atlantic Romanesque Intervention Plan, the goal is to recover the cultural, natural and social heritage of these regions, stimulate the socioeconomic activity and potentiate the trans-border ties between Spain and Portugal.
This public-private initiative implies a global budget of 4,5 million euros, supported by these three entities, and its goal is the restoration of these romanesque jewels, through maintenance, lighting and control of the monuments. Of the 24 churches, eight are located in the Vila Real district, one in Porto, four in Bragança, six in Zamora and five in Salamanca.
