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| Fundación Santa María la Real | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fundación Santa María la Real |
| Formation | 1992 |
| Type | Foundation |
| Headquarters | Aguilar de Campoo, Palencia, Spain |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Javier Fernández Sanz |
Fundación Santa María la Real is a Spanish cultural and heritage foundation based in Aguilar de Campoo, Palencia, Castilla y León focused on medieval heritage, restoration, and training. The foundation collaborates with Spanish and international institutions to conserve Romanesque architecture, promote cultural tourism, and provide vocational training in heritage trades. It operates museums, restoration workshops, and research programs while engaging with municipal, regional, and supranational partners.
The foundation was established in 1992 in Aguilar de Campoo, drawing on local initiatives tied to the Abbey of Santa María la Real and the historical legacy of the Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James, and the Kingdom of León. Early projects involved collaboration with the Junta de Castilla y León, the Diputación de Palencia, and the Spanish Ministry of Culture to document Romanesque churches, monasteries, and cloisters in provinces such as Burgos, León, Valladolid, and Soria. Inspired by preservation movements associated with figures like Joaquín Costa and institutions such as the Museo Nacional del Prado and the Museo Arqueológico Nacional, the foundation expanded in the 2000s through partnerships with the European Union, UNESCO, and the European Investment Bank for cultural heritage initiatives.
The foundation's mission emphasizes protection of Romanesque heritage, training of restoration professionals, and promotion of cultural routes including the Camino Francés and the Ruta de la Lana. It implements programs in partnership with municipal councils, regional governments like the Junta de Andalucía and the Gobierno de Cantabria, and international bodies such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Activities range from architectural surveys and conservation plans for sites like the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos to community engagement projects linked to Instituto Cervantes, Acción Cultural Española, and Fundación ONCE.
Projects have included restoration of medieval churches, cloisters, and sculptural ensembles across Castile and León, Castile–La Mancha, and La Rioja, involving collaboration with architects and conservators associated with the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and the Colegio de Arquitectos. The foundation has worked on ensembles comparable in significance to sites such as the Cathedral of Burgos, the Basilica of Santa María la Real de Nájera, and the Monastery of Yuso and Suso, and has contributed to inventories akin to those produced by the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España. Internationally, it has advised on conservation models referenced by the Getty Conservation Institute and ICCROM.
The foundation runs vocational training centers and workshops for stonemasons, carpenters, plasterers, and conservators in associations with educational bodies such as the Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional, the Universidad de Valladolid, the Universidad de Burgos, and vocational training networks including Erasmus+ and Leonardo da Vinci projects. Training includes hands-on apprenticeship schemes similar to craft traditions preserved by the Guilds of Florence and the École des Beaux-Arts, and modules developed with professional colleges like the Colegio de Conservadores-Restauradores and trade organizations such as Confederación de Empresarios de España.
The foundation publishes inventories, catalogues, and monographs on Romanesque art and architecture, producing works that complement series from the Centro de Estudios Históricos and the Real Academia de la Historia. Research outputs enter scholarly conversations alongside journals such as Hispania Nostra, Archivo Español de Arte, and Anuario de Estudios Medievales, and collaborate with research centers like the CSIC, the Biblioteca Nacional de España, and university presses at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Universitat de Barcelona.
The organization is governed by a board of trustees comprising local authorities, business leaders, and cultural figures, and works with municipalities including Palencia, Burgos, and Cantabria. Funding sources include grants from the Junta de Castilla y León, project-based financing from the European Regional Development Fund, sponsorship from private foundations, and partnerships with banks and corporations similar to Fundación BBVA and FundaciónlaCaixa. Operational models mirror those used by cultural NGOs like Hispania Nostra and Fundación del Patrimonio Histórico.
The foundation's restoration projects have enhanced cultural tourism along pilgrimage routes such as the Camino de Santiago and contributed to local economic development in provinces like Palencia and Burgos, complementing UNESCO-listed sites and regional museums. It has received recognition from heritage organizations and been cited in academic studies on conservation practice, influencing policy debates involving the Ministry of Culture and international bodies like ICOMOS and the European Commission.
Category:Cultural heritage organizations Category:Foundations based in Spain Category:Romanesque architecture