The delegate of the Government in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz Nalda, visited today in Alfaro two important actions financed by the Government of Spain: the rehabilitation of the old school José Elorza, destined for municipal services, and the recovery of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, a Good of Cultural Interest (BIC) that will become a space of cultural and tourist reference. These two interventions have involved a joint investment of 5,944,861 euros, which reinforces the Executive’s commitment to the modernization of infrastructures and the conservation of heritage in La Rioja.
Accompanied by the mayor of Alfaro, Yolanda Preciado, the delegate of the Government has toured the facilities of the old school José Elorza, whose rehabilitation has had an investment of 2,294,876 euros. Of this amount, 1,999,862 euros have been financed through the Program to Promote the Rehabilitation of Public Buildings (PIREP Local), managed by the Government of Spain within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, with funds from the European Union - Next Generation EU.
The building will house the offices of the Municipal Social Services, the Peace Court, the Local Police, the Municipal School of Music and Caritas. Improvements include the renovation of the building’s envelope to improve its energy efficiency, the installation of aerothermal and solar panels, and the removal of architectural barriers to ensure accessibility.
The Government delegate has stressed the importance of this investment to strengthen municipal services and improve the quality of life of Alfareños and Alfareñas. “Thanks to European funds and the commitment of the Government of Spain to the modernization of municipal infrastructures, Alfaro now has modern, efficient and sustainable facilities that will benefit all citizens,” said Arraiz.
Rehabilitation of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception
Delegate Beatriz Arraiz has also visited the rehabilitation works of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, in which the Government of Spain has invested 3,944,999 euros in two phases.
- The first phase, executed in 2021, involved an investment by the Government of Spain of 945,000 euros that were financed through the 1.5% Cultural Program managed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of the Government of Spain. This intervention focused on the rehabilitation of the ground floor of the building, including the cloister, the library, an ethnographic room and administrative spaces.
- The second phase, currently under development, has a funding of 2,999,999 euros from the Program to Improve the Competitiveness and Dynamization of Historical Heritage with Tourist Use, managed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of the Government of Spain with European funds Next Generation EU. This new intervention focuses on the restoration of the church, the roofs and the second floor of the convent, with the aim of turning it into an interpretation center of Alfaro and various exhibition spaces about the history, culture and natural environment of the municipality.
In this sense, Arraiz has highlighted the importance of preserving the historical heritage and turning it into a cultural and tourist resource. "The Government of Spain is committed to the conservation of our heritage and its value as an engine of development. The rehabilitation of the Convent of La Concepción is a clear example of how European and state funds make it possible to transform historic buildings into living spaces at the service of citizens and tourism," he said.
These investments in Alfaro reaffirm the commitment of the Government of Spain with the improvement of services for neighbors, the modernization of more sustainable infrastructures, the conservation of heritage and the promotion of tourism, contributing to the economic dynamization and improvement of public services in the locality.