The works that the University of Seville is carrying out in the University Church of the Annunciation have entered the final phase. The rector of the University of Seville, Miguel Ángel Castro, has visited the building, one of the most significant buildings of the Sevillian Renaissance and part of the University’s heritage since the 18th century. The works being carried out correspond to the first phase of the Integral Restoration Master Plan of the church, whose main objective is tostop the entry of water into the temple and the restoration of elements of high heritage value located on the roofs.
The intervention, which has had an initial Material Execution Budget (PEM) of 840,131? and 15 months of execution, has seen its budget increase by 12%, due to new actions included in the Modified Project, reaching 942,423?.
For Miguel Ángel Castro, the restoration has made it possible to save a historical asset of the University of Seville and the city and make it available to all citizens.
For his part, the architect responsible for the direction of the works and professor at the University of Seville, Antonio Campos, stressed that the University Church of the Annunciation is the history of the city and has valued very positively the moment in which the reform has been carried out, since the roofs suffered a high level of deterioration with evident water ingress. The work carried out on the main dome has also allowed more light to enter the interior .
The intervention has been led by a multidisciplinary team composed of two architects, Antonio Campos and Adán Ramos, as project managers, a technical architect, Jesús Ruiz, as project manager, a restorer, Daniel Peinado, as project manager, and a technical coordinator from the University of Seville, Eugenia Garrido.
Once the works are completed and an official opening ceremony is held, the roofs of the church will become a visitable space, in small groups, which will be part of a broader visit that also includes the Pantheon of Illustrious Sevillians and the interior of the Church of the Annunciation. The roofs will have some exhibitors, as city maps, in which the visitor, through an app, will be able to recognize the main moments and urban landscape.
The University of Seville expects to celebrate the inauguration in the near future with the representation of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MTMAU).
Brief history of the church
The Church of the Annunciation, one of the most significant buildings of the Sevillian Renaissance, was part of the architectural complex of the Professed House of the Society of Jesus, a Jesuit residence until the mid-18th century. From 1771 it became part of the patrimony of the University of Seville where it was located until the mid-twentieth century when the Rectorate moved to its current location in the Tobacco Factory. The church, however, maintains its university use to this day, and various academic events are still held there, such as the opening of the academic year, the investitures of honoris causa and cultural activities.Due to its great heritage value, this temple, which dates back to the 16th century, has the highest degree of protection in our legislation through the figure of a Property of Cultural Interest (BIC) in the category of Monument since 1931.
