The Alhambra will reveal new details on the restoration of the Patio de los Leones

The aim of the course held from today until next Friday 21st in the Palace of Charles V and organized by the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, in collaboration with the Mediterranean Centre of Granada University, is to learn more details about the restoration of the Court of the Lions. A hundred participants, among whom are art historians, university students, architects, etc., will have the opportunity to learn the key points behind the restoration work in the “heart of the Alhambra”.
The restoration of the Fountain of the Lions of the Alhambra: criteria, processes and methodology, is directed by María del Mar Villafranca, Director of the Monument, and by Pedro Salmerón, the architect responsible for the restoration of the hydraulic circuit of the Court of the Lions. This course provides “a unique opportunity to acquire a deeper knowledge of this area and to understand in situ what this restoration has consisted of”.
Villafranca’s opinion is that although the restoration work has been completed, a further task has begun “no less important than the previous one: maintenance, which is the key to completing the work that has taken place during these years in the Courtyard”. She has explained that the restoration has been divided into three very distinct periods: “the restoration of the 11 lions at the same time, and the fountain, which had to be worked on in the Courtyard itself, and the reformation of the hydraulic circuit”. She explained that the moment of maximum apprehension was when “restoration began on the Nasrid sculptures, since this involved “maximum risk”.
Pedro Salmerón, who has directed the technical reformation work of the hydraulic circuit, has admitted spending the last ten years of his life in the Courtyard and that this has meant a “gratifying and passionate” experience. He has explained that the participants will have the opportunity to learn about the work undertaken, the methodology used in the restoration of one of the most important icons of the Monumental Complex.
In tomorrow morning’s session Antonio Malpica, Professor of Medieval History of Granada University, will be speaking of the vital role of archaeology in the restoration in the Courtyard of the Lions. Carlo Cacace, the physicist from the Instituto Centrale per el Restauro will also explain his research on the microclimate of the Hall of the Kings and the Courtyard of the Lions.
In the afternoon, the talk will be by Irene Arroyo from the Instituto del Patrimonio Histórico Español, on prevention and control of bio-deterioration of the Fountain of the Lions of the Alhambra. Rosario Villegas, consultant for the Instituto Andaluz de Patrimonio Histórico, will explain the experimental techniques applied to conservation. Pedro Cano, of the department of Languages and Computer Systems of Granada University, will give details of the research of the laser scanner as a support to the process of restoration and documentation of the Fountain of the Lions.
Two further lecturers will also be taking part: José María Gallardo, department of metallurgic engineering of Seville University, and the restorer Concha Cirujano, who will give details of the objectives and methodology of preventative conservation.

Fountain of the Lions