The Roman Theatre in Cartagena, Spain, and Le Collège des Bernardins in Paris, France were among two of the three Grand Prix winners at the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, which were held last month in Istanbul. The awards, which were held in the 6th century Byzantine church, Aya Irini (Hagia Eirene), were to celebrate the extraordinary initiatives within the field of Europe’s cultural heritage with the aim to promote high standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice.
The Roman Theatre of Cartagena was built at the end of the 1st Century BC when Cartagena was a Roman colony, in the era of Emperor Augustus. By the sixteenth century its ruins were built over, and it was not until 1987 that theatre was rediscovered. The people of Cartagena were asked to vote as to whether or not, the buildings standing there in 1987 should remain, or be torn down to find the ruins. The town voted in favor of the excavation and reconstruction of the Roman Theatre. It has now been restored and opened as a major tourist attraction.
Europa Nostra said about the project, ““The Jury applauds the restoration of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena and its well-executed integration into the existing urban fabric, as well as its proper conservation and exhibition and use for educational and cultural purposes. The new and well designed museum which incorporates elements such as the crypt of the Santa Maria Coviesa church and the Pascual de Riquelme Palace, has been invaluable in securing the timely regeneration of this area in Cartegena.”
Les College des Bernardins was started as a Cistercian monastery in 1245 by Pope Innocent IV to encourage the study of theology, philosophy and literature. The church was built in 1248 and eventually became a prison, warehouse, school, fire station, and a police school. It was sold to the Paris Diocese in 2001. Restoration was started in 2004 and completed in September 2008. It is now a cultural center featuring exhibits, concerts and films.
The jury noted, “The restoration of the Collège des Bernardins was recognised as an emblematic achievement of European heritage conservation. This laudable conservation achievement has revealed an exceptional building of medieval civic architecture, and after more than two centuries of neglect, has allowed the College to offer once more its gifts of intellectual and spiritual enrichment to contemporary society.”
A third project, the Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany, also received an award in the Conservation category. The Museum was re-opened in 2009 after being partially destroyed during the Second World War. All three winners received a monetary award of €10,000.
The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards were jointly launched in 2002 by the European Commission and Europa Nostra to celebrate extraordinary initiatives within the field of Europe’s cultural heritage with the aim to promote high standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony were the highlight of the Europa Nostra Annual Congress, which tookplace in Istanbul from 8-12 June, in the Turkish city of Istanbul, the 2010 European Capital of Culture.
See also our earlier article 2010 European Heritage Awards Announced
Source: Europa Nostra
