main content
The Xavier de Salas Foundation intends to improve the accessibility of the San Francisco el Real convent, through the rehabilitation project prepared by the prestigious architect Juan de Dios de la Hoz.
The president of the Xavier de Salas Foundation, Jaime de Salas; the president of Apamex, Jesús Gumiel; and the technician of the Technical Office of Accessibility of Extremadura, Pedro Reig, have met with the councilors for Urban Planning and Citizen Participation, Manuela Ortega and Gabriela Carvajal, to present the basic lines of the project.
At the meeting, the basic lines of the rehabilitation project developed by the prestigious architect Juan de Dios de la Hoz in collaboration with Otaex, which focuses on a series of actions that, in addition to guaranteeing the accessibility of the space, make it a benchmark in how to address the accessibility needs of infrastructures that have similar barriers.
The Xavier de Salas Foundation was created in 1981 by Xavier de Salas and his wife Carmen Ortueta, in order to contribute to the cultural and social development of Extremadura and Latin America. More than 30 years later, he continues working in the conservation of the historical-artistic heritage, entrepreneurial activity, development cooperation, defense of the environment and landscape, anthropological and musical research.
The convent of San Francisco el Real de la Puerta de la Coria, popularly known as La Coria Convent, dates from the 15th century, being originally a convent of nuns of the Franciscan Third Order Regular. It is located within the historical complex of Trujillo, on the walls and next to one of its gates, the one that started the road that leads to the city of Coria.
The convent was abandoned by its community during the War of Independence and, since then, it was suffering a process of progressive ruin until in 1969 Xavier de Salas and Carmen Ortueta acquired it and undertook the necessary work of clearing rubble, consolidation of foundations and restoration. paused until 1981, when the building was donated to the headquarters of the Xavier de Salas Foundation
Between 1999 and 2001, the recovery of new spaces in the convent was carried out thanks to the financing of the Interreg II Program and the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture, the Hispania Nostra Foundation, the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance and the Caja Madrid Foundation.
Although the restored building is adapted to the demands of modern life, it has always been intended to reflect the architectural and artisan tradition from which it arose. In this way, it has been possible to carry out an important restoration using the techniques of masonry, stonework, blacksmithing, and to a lesser degree, carpentry that have been used for centuries.
These works have also made it possible to safeguard numerous pieces rescued from demolition that, otherwise, would have been lost, and which, joining the La Coria Convent, occupy a place according to their aesthetic and historical importance. In addition to the civil works, historical and archaeological studies were carried out that have allowed a better knowledge of the building.
As progress has been made in the recovery of the ruined spaces, they have been used for the different uses demanded by the activities of the Foundation. The work of dissemination takes place above all in the Didactic Museum and the Ibero-American Handicraft Exhibition, which occupy a large part of the recovered areas, while other rooms are used for training classrooms and other spaces at the service of the Foundation’s events or from other institutions.
In addition, to support and promote research, a library and archive with numerous documentary collections have been created, and other spaces have been set up to accommodate the Foundation’s administrative infrastructure and the needs of its programs and activities.
–
