José Luis Sanz, the mayor of Seville, recently inspected the restoration works at the Santa Clara monastery, a significant monument in the city's historic centre. The project, which includes two phases of rehabilitation, is supported by a total investment of €8.5 million.
The first phase focuses on the courtyard and adjacent buildings, with a budget exceeding €3.3 million. The second phase, which covers the Puerta Reglar and monastic living quarters, has an investment of over €5.1 million. Work on this phase commenced in June, with an estimated completion time of 18 months, after which the first phase will begin.
A key aspect of the restoration is the historical Puerta Reglar, which served as the former entrance for the nuns. This will be transformed into the new entrance for the Santa Clara Space, featuring the restoration of its 17th-century façade, enhanced landscaping, ornamental lighting, and a central fountain. The project will also create facilities for access control, a shop, café, and exhibition space.
“I want to thank everyone involved for their efforts in recovering such a unique space in Seville as the Santa Clara monastery,” said Sanz, adding that the project aims to gradually return the site to the people of Seville.
In addition to these initiatives, the city council has recently tendered works for the restoration of the Profundis hall and its adjoining residences, with a budget of €3.9 million and a projected execution period of 18 months.
Five phases of restoration
The restoration efforts are part of a comprehensive plan structured into five phases:
- Phase I: Rehabilitation and restoration of adjacent buildings for exhibition use, recovery of the courtyard space, and restoration of the baroque façade.
- Phase II: Restoration of the Profundis hall and former monastery quarters, and rehabilitation of the old residences for exhibition purposes.
- Phases III and IV: Rehabilitation and consolidation of the Puerta Reglar and monastic living quarters, along with the recovery of open spaces and patios.
- Phase V: Restoration of roofs and rooms for new uses, refurbishment of the old kitchens, recovery of the courtyard and garden, and construction of a communication hub.
This ongoing plan aims to gradually restore the 9,700 square metre monastic complex, positioning it as a major cultural hub in the historic centre under the management of the Institute of Culture and Arts of Seville (ICAS).
Significant municipal investment
Restoration works at the Santa Clara monastery began in 2002, with approximately €8 million invested by 2023. Since May 2023, the city council has launched a rehabilitation plan with over €14.4 million, and in the past year, projects worth more than €12 million have been tendered for the site. Overall, municipal investment in this location has surpassed €22 million, reflecting the city's commitment to preserving heritage and revitalising the historic centre.
Mayor Sanz highlighted that “in the past three and a half years, we have recovered heritage buildings for the people of Seville, including San Hermenegildo, San Laureano, Pumarejo, San Jerónimo, Torre de la Plata, Lope de Vega, Artillería, Casa Cernuda, and the Alcázar of Seville, which has seen the largest investment of over €20 million.” In total, municipal investment in heritage recovery has exceeded €60 million in this period.
