The delegate of the Government in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz Nalda, visited this morning the restoration works of the zócalos of the interior of the Collegiate Church of San Miguel Arcángel de Alfaro, 100 per cent funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, from the credits of the Architectural Rehabilitation Program, which is managed by the General Directorate of Urban Agenda and Architecture. The award of the works contract was approved in November 2023 for a value of 671,997.63 euros, VAT included.
The Collegiate Church of San Miguel Arcángel is a Catholic temple located in the Plaza de España in Alfaro, declared a National Monument on April 23, 1976. It is the largest sanctuary in La Rioja and the only collegiate in Spain made entirely of brick.
Performances
The main objective of the works is to alleviate the main consequences caused by the great humidity arising from the effects of the capillary and which has deteriorated, over time, the bases of pillars and pilasters and the mortar of the walls to variable levels, causing detachments in much of it.
To this end, removable wooden bases and plinths will be used, with the application of water-repellent treatment, which will allow a continuous ventilation of the plinths and will allow the periodic cleaning of the salts.
On the other hand, the walls affected by the deterioration of the mortars will be repaired through the realization of a new lime coating, to provide the temple with an adequate image, in accordance with its needs and use, as well as with its important historical-artistic values.
Previously, the Ministry has intervened in different phases in the College, providing an amount of more than 6 million euros between the years 2004 and 2009.
Architectural Rehabilitation Program
This action to protect and safeguard the Spanish Cultural Heritage is carried out within the framework of the Architectural Heritage Rehabilitation Program. This Program consists of the execution of relevant works of rehabilitation of the Spanish architectural heritage and endowment of public facilities with the budgets of the Ministry.
In these cases, the Ministry acts as a contracting body for the works, being assigned an investment in the General Budgets of the State.