Por María Izquierdo 
The Government Council of the Junta de Castilla y León has approved this morning the granting of a subsidy to support these actions. The aid amounts to 125,000 euros, which represents 50% of the total project cost.
July 3, 2025
Castilla y León | Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports
The Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, Gonzalo Santonja, presented today, alongside the rector of the University of Salamanca, Santiago García-Jalón, the conservation works of the altarpieces of the Clerecía, an initiative launched by the academic institution.
Santonja has emphasized that «these actions not only reflect a profound respect for our historical heritage but also a clear vision of the role that heritage can play in the cultural, social, and economic development of our territories.» He also pointed out that «the future of our municipalities, especially those with a rich historical past like Salamanca, lies in turning the care and dissemination of their heritage into a true cultural industry. An industry that not only conserves but also generates opportunities, promotes quality tourism, drives education, and reinforces the sense of identity of our communities.»
The Real Clerecía de San Marcos, a jewel of Spanish Baroque, has received attention and care from public institutions on several occasions. The Junta, in collaboration with other entities, has contributed to its conservation over the years. The most recent intervention was the restoration of the Studies cloister, carried out by the Historical Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León, with the collaboration of the regional government. Previously, a conservation intervention of the altarpiece was carried out as part of the comprehensive restoration works of the Clerecía undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and the Junta in 1989. Today, a new stage in that shared commitment is celebrated.
The University of Salamanca has recently promoted a series of interventions inside this temple of the Holy Spirit, focused on the conservation of its main altarpiece and the side altarpieces dedicated to San Ignacio de Loyola and San Francisco Javier. These interventions, carried out with rigor and sensitivity, seek to preserve the beauty and symbolic value of these heritage elements, which are part of the soul of the Clerecía and the city.
The Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports believes that heritage conservation cannot be addressed in isolation. It requires dialogue, cooperation, and a shared vision among administrations, universities, foundations, and citizens. Therefore, it advocates for an intervention policy based on institutional coordination and sustainability, both economically and socially. In this sense, the Government Council of the Junta has approved this morning the granting of this subsidy of 125,000 euros to support these actions.
Santonja has acknowledged not only the teaching and research work that the University of Salamanca has carried out over its more than eighty years of history but also its commitment to the protection and enhancement of its heritage. The Clerecía, with its altarpieces and architecture, is a universal image of this institution and a symbol of the city. «We trust that these initiatives will contribute to strengthening the role of this building as a driver of cultural and touristic dynamism. Salamanca, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for 37 years now, has in the Clerecía one of its most emblematic references. Taking care of it is, therefore, a shared responsibility and an opportunity to continue building the future from memory.»