An artistic heritage for citizens
The rehabilitation of the stained glass windows and roofs of Barcelona Cathedral, as well as the presentation of the new digital archive, are the result of collaboration between various institutions in order to highlight this important artistic heritage and offer it to the public. Cardinal Joan Josep Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona, stated this during a press conference held in the cloister of the Barcelona Cathedral.
Financial support for interventions
The interventions carried out have been possible thanks to the funding provided by the Spanish Government, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Regional Development Fund. This support has been essential to carry out the restoration work on the cathedral’s stained glass windows and roofs.
Restoration of the stained glass windows
A total of twelve stained glass windows in the ambulatory, most of which date from the 14th century and some from the 19th century, have been dismantled, repaired, redone and reinforced in order to recover their original splendor. These restoration works began before the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic and have been carried out by a multidisciplinary team that has worked intensively to clean, repair and strengthen the stained glass windows, ensuring their preservation.
Improvement of the roofs
The rooftops of Barcelona’s cathedral have become a new vantage point for the city, offering a 360-degree panoramic view from the heart of the Gothic Quarter. The improvement works have affected an area of 2,002 square meters of tiles and have included waterproofing and sanitation to prevent damage to the roof of the cloister and the church. In addition, the original pavement has been restored and access has been improved with new stairs and railings, as well as the lift has been modernised.
Free access to the digital archive
The new digital archive of the cathedral will allow free access to the oldest documents of the Chapter Archive, which will be gradually expanded. At this moment, 933 documents with a total of 179,791 pages can be consulted. This initiative will facilitate historical research of all types and disciplines, making the documentation of the Chapter Archive available to everyone.
Continuity of restoration works
Currently, new restoration works are already being carried out in Barcelona Cathedral to guarantee its conservation for future generations.
