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One of Caravaca de la Cruz’s most important historic buildings will open its doors again on Saturday October 3 after a year of restoration, with the former Convent of San José marking its return with a special concert.

 

The church will reopen at 8.30pm with a performance by Cantoría, a vocal group specialising in Iberian Renaissance and early Baroque polyphony. The programme has been created around the work of Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán and the artistic, religious and musical world of 17th- and 18th-century Spain.

 

The reopening follows the first major phase of restoration at the former convent, which was founded by Saint Teresa of Ávila. Work has included restoring the exterior and interior façades, repairing the church roofs and bell tower and conserving mural paintings, vaults and altarpieces.

 

The building has also been upgraded to accommodate future cultural and tourism activities, with new electrical, lighting, air conditioning, fire protection and communications systems installed. Sound and security systems have been pre-installed, while improvements to flooring and accessibility have also been carried out.

 

The project has cost more than €1.4 million and has been funded through the European Union’s Next Generation funds, with the work managed by the Institute of Tourism of the Region of Murcia (ITREM) and Caravaca de la Cruz Town Council.

 

The former convent was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2003 and was acquired by the region in 2021 for €800,000 after being held by an investment fund. The purchase was intended to safeguard the historic complex and allow its restoration and future use to move forward.

 

The reopening also comes as Caravaca marks 450 years since the foundation of the convent, giving the historic site a particularly significant place in the city’s cultural calendar.

 

Further information about Caravaca is available from the tourist office (Plaza de España, 7, telephone 968 702424, email turismo@caravacadelacruz.es).

Or for more local information, including the Holy Jubilee Year as well as local news and what’s on, go to the home page of Caravaca Today.

 

Image: ITREM