(J.A.G.) Next October 6, at 7:00 p.m., in the assembly hall of our school, Mr. PEDRO GÓMEZ (Inspector of Education, General Deputy Director of Educational Planning and General Deputy Director of Centers) will give a conference about the arrival of the Piarist Fathers to this school (1873) and the 150 years that they have been in charge of the training of numerous generations of students, as well as the maintenance of the building (declared BIC in February 2021). Admission is open to all those who are interested in learning more about the history of the School.

We wait for you

(J.A.G.) When a painting is restored, sometimes strange, inexplicable and even funny things appear. This is what happened when cleaning the painting of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, which will soon be in perfect condition for exhibition.

It is the clock that is seen on a table next to the Cardinal. When I cleaned it and expanded it, the surprise was great, the dial of that watch does not have any logic. Perhaps the painter’s ignorance of Roman numerals. Perhaps the painter had never seen a watch in his life, since in the 16th century, a watch was a very, very luxury item. Perhaps that is why the cardinal has his portrait taken next to a clock.

On this watch, the dial is not properly oriented, there are missing hours and the eight hours are listed twice, once as VIII and once as IIX.

Enjoy the clock anecdote.

(J.A.G.) This morning the entire school celebrated the 150 years of the presence of the PP. Piarists in Monforte de Lemos. Students, teachers and parents have participated in the “congratulations” ceremony for those not inconsiderable 150 years.

With some photos we bear witness to our happy anniversary.

(J.A.G.) Within the actions approved by the Monforte City Council and in collaboration with the Royal College and Nª Sª de la Antigua Foundation, paving has begun on the school’s basketball court located in front of the sports center.

It will be given a polished cement finish and corresponding paint.

We are preparing for the beginning of the course that marks the 150th year of the presence of the PP. Piarists in Monforte de Lemos

Once the restoration work on this work in our Pinacoteca has begun, the results are encouraging. The cleaning tests and the cleaning carried out demonstrate the magnificent work carried out by the Crea company team.

The canvas, torn apart due to the seams of the canvases that make up the entire work, had to be repaired. They will be sewn again by hand, which will restore the tension necessary for proper installation to the canvas.

Work has been done on the frame and side bands will be added to facilitate fastening to the frame and its final installation.

With some photos we illustrate what was said.

These days the FCNSdlA has tackled the painting of the entrance to Primary and the climb to classes, something that was already sorely needed. The institutional colors blue and orange have been used to create a cheerful and clean environment.

One of the Foundation’s tasks is to support the Real Colegio PP. Piarists in their needs. We will shortly inform about the aid both in material and in scholarships and dining room scholarships that the foundation has provided, as well as the material improvements in which it has contributed.

With three photos we illustrate the intervention in the Primary stairs

Co-financing of the Concello de Monforte will deal with the restoration of the painting of Cardeal Rodrigo de Castro that was located in the Pinacoteca do Colexio on the entrance gate.

The restoration has all the authorizations from the General Directorate of Heritage second restoration project presented by the company CREA that works on our church restoring some two lateral altarpieces and the pulpit.

How many photos do we illustrate at the entrance that we offer to our friends and readers today.

The restoration works of the Chapel of the Relics of the church of Nª Sª de la Antigua, are progressing adequately. The bulk of the work will soon be finished, although there will be many touch-ups left for the complete completion of the restoration work.

Today we add here some photos of the floral backgrounds that, due to being semi-hidden behind thick oxidized varnishes, were not appreciated in their luminosity and splendor. Serve this as a sample button to understand the impact that the fully restored altar will produce. The photos correspond to the central niche, and the polychrome wooden coffered ceiling of the chapel. Our congratulations to the restoration team.

Once the work has been tendered and in the absence of the signature by the winning company, the restoration of the Chapel of the Relics will begin. Due to its complexity, the restoration will last an estimated time of six months, so hopefully by July we will be able to enjoy this new rehabilitated space. Probably, given its state, part of the altarpiece will have to be dismantled in order to renew the fastenings and restore its verticality and horizontality. The floor will be renewed in the same way and it will be seen to avoid the leaks that apparently exist in the wall of the façade. We will provide information on the development of these works.

On the 29th, the delivery of the work carried out in the six side chapels of the church of the Real Colegio de los Escolapios was officially delivered. With this act, the interventions in these chapels are completed, the result being a magnificent return to its former splendor. The works have been financed by the Consellería de Cultura and supervised by the Dirección Xeral do Patrimonio.

It now remains to wait for the start of the restoration of the Chapel of the Relics, which will take much longer, since the magnificent Baroque altarpiece will probably have to be completely dismantled and then reassembled safely, correcting the problems it now has.

The FCNSdlA plans to begin work on the new lighting in February, at which time the reconstruction of part of the recently sunken floor of the sacristy will be addressed.

We attach here a QR code through which we request donations of €20 to deal with these works not supported by the Xunta and some pending restorations that are of great interest to us.