The Cathedral Chapter of Seville will resume the restoration works of the Sagrario Parish, once, as far as possible, it can leave the ERTE that affected the majority of the workers of this institution, the Cathedral Chapter has reported. In this way, a very important intervention that was paralyzed after the loss of income due to the outbreak of the pandemic, and whose objective was to put an end to the serious foundation problems of the building, is resumed.
“The progressive normalization of the cultural visit, with the consequent economic recovery, allows restarting some works to which the Cabildo gives priority, given the need for the pastoral activity of the aforementioned parish, which until now takes place in the Royal Chapel of the Cathedral. In addition, the technical direction urges this resumption of the works to prevent the temple from suffering further deterioration”, the Cathedral has published.
The restoration of the parish of the Tabernacle of the Cathedral of Seville began on November 4, 2019. From that day, the temple attached to the Cathedral was closed, moving all the cults to the Royal Chapel. The work to repair the foundation problems and the cracks in all the facades and vaults was scheduled to last for a year, but the outbreak of the pandemic disrupted all the initial plans. The works were safely put on hold waiting to be able to continue, as it will now.
The Archbishopric of Seville decided to close the Sagrario parish for worship due to major problems with the foundations. The studies carried out by the Cathedral architect, Jaime Navarro, and by his collaborators, concluded that the structural problems suffered by the temple were notable and, therefore, a comprehensive intervention had to be undertaken.
A meticulous auscultation since 2015
The studies to analyze the behavior of the building began in April 2015, once cracks and fissures in walls, arches and vaults were appreciated, and lasted for three years. Up to 19 fisurometers were placed in the damaged places to monitor the evolution.
The results of this auscultation concluded that there had been movements of alternative trend of opening and closing of the fissures in a horizontal direction. Regarding vertical alterations, cases of alternating movements were also recorded in the south wall (connection with the Cathedral) and in the east wall (closure towards the Patio de los Naranjos).
The technicians also carried out a geotechnical-archaeological investigation of the pathologies that also included a study on the water table and the layout of the Islamic water evacuation gallery of the Patio de los Naranjos, which runs parallel to Alemanes Street towards Avenida , and its possible relationship with the pathologies of the temple. The investigation specified that the foundation of the temple is partially supported on the foundation elements of the old mosque.
With a cost of 1.6 million, and financing from the cultural visit to the Cathedral, the intervention that is now being taken up again focuses on underpinning the foundations, structural reinforcement actions and the rehabilitation of the vaults, the roofs and the complete section of the East facade, which is the one that corresponds to the Patio de los Naranjos. The project left open the possibility that during the work repair and replacement work of the constructive and ornamental quality of elements that are damaged or affected by the actual execution of the works may be necessary. Not only will the closure of the church be needed, but also the connection between the central nave and the sacristy.
Improvement in the income of the cultural visit
In its statement announcing that the work of the Tabernacle is resumed, the Cabildo has indicated that there is a noticeable improvement in visits to the Cathedral thanks to the gradual return of tourists to the Cathedral. Although they call for caution, “since the comparison with the visitor figures for September and October 2019 places these months of 2021 at 47% of entries.” Finally, the Cabildo is confident that it will be able to resume the projects to improve the cathedral’s heritage as soon as “economic and health normality” is a fact.
The north facade of the Giralda and other postponed works
In June 2020, during the presentation of the financial year of the previous year, Teodoro Leon, vicar general and dean of the Cathedral, announced that the Archdiocese would suspend all planned works due to lack of income. One of the most anticipated actions, which already had the building permit, and which should have been undertaken that year, was the rehabilitation of the north facade of the Giralda, the one that remains to complete the integral intervention in the minaret. The plans of the Cabildo, if the income continues to recover, is that it can be undertaken at the end of next year.
The pandemic also paralyzed other performances scheduled in the church of El Salvador, in San Benito, Omnium Sanctorum, San Esteban or those of the Archbishopric itself, which had to be finished raw.
