The Cabildo of Lanzarote has approved the granting of two important nominated subsidies to the Diocese of the Canary Islands and to the owners of the Molina de José Mara Gil, known as "de Ch Flix", with a total investment exceeding 470,000 euros.
In the field of ecclesiastical property, the Island Corporation, through the Heritage Area, managed by Councilor Ascensi Toledo, has signed a collaboration agreement with the Diocese of the Canary Islands, endowed with a subsidy of 412,000 euros. The main objective of this agreement is the conservation, maintenance and dissemination of ecclesiastical property assets present in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
According to the President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, “this agreement reflects our duty as a public administration to protect and enhance a heritage that not only belongs to the Church, but is a fundamental legacy for the cultural identity of the island and a common good of our society.”
For her part, the Councilor for Historical Heritage, Ascensi Toledo, underlines the importance of the agreement, stating that “this collaboration not only ensures the conservation of these assets, but also allows their enjoyment by citizens through joint policies of restoration, risk prevention and cultural dissemination.”
Highlighted actions included in the agreement
Under this agreement, the Diocese can execute the necessary interventions to guarantee the conservation and restoration of real estate assets, thus disseminating and divulging the architectural heritage and allowing the use of said assets for cultural purposes. “This fact also means”, explains the island councilor, “enhancing said cultural heritage, while promoting its protection and conservation.”
The interventions include the waterproofing and painting of the Hermitage of Santa Brbara, the Hermitage of Los Dolores and the parish of San Roque in Mancha Blanca; the conservation and maintenance works of the Santo Cristo de Las Aguas parish of Guatiza and the rehabilitation of the facades of the Arrecife parish house and the Catholic Library.
With regard to movable property, the restoration of the sculptures of Nuestra Seora de La Encarnacin, in Hara and the sculpture of Santa Brbara, in Mguez, stand out. It also includes the restoration of the canvases Nuestra Seora del Rosario, Virgen del Sol y La Luna, Virgen Inmaculada, San Francisco bendiciendo y Coronacin de la Virgen in Teguise, as well as the restoration of the bells of the Nuestra Seora de La Candelaria parish in Tas.
Restoration of the Molina de José Mara Gil
In parallel, the Cabildo has granted another nominated subsidy of 62,000 euros for the restoration of the Molina de José Mara Gil, a sample of the artisanal industrial architecture of the 19th century located in San Bartolom. Built in 1870 and recognized for its heritage value, the mill is deteriorated due to the passage of time.
The Councilor for Heritage, Ascensi Toledo, emphasizes that “this mill is not only a vestige of our history, but a symbol of the ingenuity and artisanal tradition that characterize our island, so its restoration will allow us to revalue this piece of Lanzarote's architectural heritage.”
