13/12/2011
Vitoria- Gasteiz, 13th December 2011.- The sacristy of Santa Maria Cathedral opens to the public during Christmas time. It was built between 1734 and 1736 and restored in 2008, and tomorrow there will be a conference about it at 8pm in Villasuso Palace with free entrance.It will be possible to visit the sacristy between 17th December and 8th January in the morning and also in the afternoon. The Nativity Scene is at the moment in the sacristy and it will be possible to visit it. It has a neoclassical style and it is composed by the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus, St. Joseph, three shepherds and three animals. The visit costs 3€ and it is necessary to make a reservation calling to 945 255 135 or going to the Visitors Reception Centre.The Foundation has also organized a conference entitled ´The sacristy of Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation. History and Restoration´. The speakers are Juan Ignacio Lasagabaster, architect and director of Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, Diana Pardo, restorer of the Restoration Service of the County Council of Alava, and Fernando Bartolomé, Art History teacher in the University of the Basque Country. The conference will begin at 8pm in Villasuso Palace with free entrance.
Sacristy of Santa Maria Cathedral
It was built between 1734 and 1736 and part of the medieval wall of the headboard of the cathedral needed to be broken for its construction. It has been painted seven times , but the most interesting one is the first one. The sacristy has inside four tallboys and a large table to keep all the liturgical ornaments.
After the furniture of the sacristy has been restored, it is possible to see the original polychromy. It is the earliest and dariest work found in Alava in this decorative line. The blue colour mixed with the silver and gold toned drawings are the protagonists of the chinese scenes that cover the columns.
There is also an apostles pictorial collection , eight medaillons with the fathers and doctors of the Church, and an english grandfather clock of the XVIIIth century.