Façade of the Monastery of La Piedad in Casalarreina (La Rioja)

The Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad is one of La Rioja’s finest examples of late-Gothic architecture. The church façade is a noteworthy highlight, with stunning Plateresque decoration performed by Felipe Bigarny in the 16^th century. To undertake the façade restoration project, and the two windows and blinded door in the north part of the monastery, the IPCE commissioned the conducting of a preliminary study, which enabled further knowledge of the façade, and to determine the scope of the intervention to be carried out and the type of treatment best suited, in accordance with the characteristics and the state of conservation.

The studies conducted included: the materials characterisation through sample analysis, the study and identification of the lesions and pathologies, salt cartography preparation, thermographic studies of the surfaces and an extensive environmental study. Similarly, tests were performed for the feasibility study of the different treatments proposed, mainly focused on the cleaning, consolidation, reintegration, and elimination of biodeterioration by performing in situ tests and their subsequent laboratory analysis. Based on the conclusions obtained from these preliminary studies, an intervention proposal based on the overall needs was designed, both to guarantee their conservation and their promotion.