The Archbishopric of Valencia and the Hortensia Herrero Foundation signed an agreement to undertake the restoration of the mural paintings and sculptures of the central nave of the Church of San Pedro Martir and San Nicolás Obispo. The Universitat Politècnica de València was commissioned to carry out the work, which involves the conservation of one of the most interesting artistic and cultural assets of the Valencian Community. A team of specialists from the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, headed by Professor Pilar Roig, took care of the process.
The works began with a preliminary study that analyzed the conservation of the frescoes and the rest of the ornaments of the nave of the church. In the document, the specialists spoke of a “worrying deterioration in its entirety”. In particular, “the paintings, dating back to the late seventeenth century, suffered a darkening of the entire surface and had part of its polychrome altered. Several whitish areas and irregular stains were also found.”
Apart from the restoration of the paintings, there was also architectural work done. The church’s architectural structure was strengthened, the roof restored and some parts of the exterior of the church reinforced. These works, directed by the architect Carlos Campos, were carried out by the company EMR (Studies of Methods of Restoration). Both works are part of the second phase of a general restoration that started in 2012, when the Neo-Gothic façades and that of the Communion Chapel (in Baroque style) were restored together with the stained-glass windows of the temple.