Santa María of Wamba, between its past and the future. Valladolid/Spain

Abstract

The Monastery of Santa María, Spanish National Monument since June 1931, grew up between the 10th and the 18th centuries becoming a prominent administrative and spiritual centre. Every historic addition to the complex, though clearly reflecting its era, was conceived preserving the former space scheme. Things changed in the 19th century: Laws forced the monks to leave the abbey behind, while subsoil humidity began to attack limestone reducing its endurance. Even though the situation drove the monastery near to ruin and caused irretrievable damage to art works, the church kept the daily worship. In 1984 the Regional Administration decided to broach a wide restoration of the monument. Works as well as its simultaneous research and documentation process, were developed during 6 years with a close cooperation among specialists. Thus, a new phase in the building's life was concluded. Unknown clues were afforded about his old space order (that was clarified) and a great attention was payed to the relationship between old and new elements. Next pages describes technical, compositional and functional aspects of the intervention.