It was established 149 years ago and housed in a 15th century building. It is the first time that a state-owned company located outside the national territory has received this special protection.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports, through the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts, has opened the file for the declaration as a property of cultural interest, in the monument category, of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome.
The property, owned by the State and attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, is located in the former Franciscan Monastery of San Pedro in Montorio, a monumental complex located on the Janiculum Hill in the Italian capital that houses more than five centuries of relations between Spain and Italy.
With this file it is the first time that a process of declaration as Heritage of Cultural Interest of a building located outside the national territory has been started.
The activity of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome is traditionally linked to artistic practices and academic exchanges, following the lines of action between residents, cultural activities and monumental complexes. Its primary aim is to contribute to the artistic and humanistic training of makers, restorers and researchers, thus achieving a greater Spanish cultural presence in Italy, a better understanding of the cultures of both countries and a greater cultural bond between Europe and Latin America.
The institution, which will be 150 years old in 2023, was founded in 1873, during the First Republic, by Emilio Castelar. The Academy was created to meet the concerns and training needs of artists and intellectuals for whom Rome was an essential destination in the 17th century and especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. After some time without its own premises, it settled permanently in the Monastery of San Pedro in Montorio in 1881 after a large-scale rehabilitation project.
The property has been linked to Spain since the fifteenth century and is an example of the good historical and artistic relations between the two countries. The monumental complex consists of the Church of San Pedro in Montorio (1480-1500); and two cloisters, the oldest of which (around 1480-1500) houses the sanctuary or chapel of the crucifixion of the Apostle Saint Peter (around 1503-1505), designed by Bramante; and the second (around 1553-1557), houses a series of frescoes on the outer rim dedicated to the history of Saint Francis and his order. In addition, it has a square and a Stations of the Cross, fundamental elements of communication with the city of Rome.
Likewise, the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome includes a range of movable property as part of its permanent collection. They are an essential aspect of its history and are constantly updated as a result of a living heritage associated with the works of resident artists.
From 2004, with the departure of the Franciscans who still lived in the monastery, the building was the subject of several interventions to modernize and refurbish the various spaces for use by the in-house artists. The most recent renovations were aimed at improving the accessibility of the spaces, a line of action that will be reinforced in future interventions.
Source: La Verdad
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