Today, the mayor of Salamanca, Carlos García Carbayo, presented the restoration of the original San Cebrián cruise located in the San Carlos Borromeo municipal cemetery. The works have been possible thanks to the collaboration of the City Council and the Diocese of Salamanca, owner of the work, and with the financing of the cemetery’s concessionaire, Parque Cementerio. Carmen Diego and Carmina Fernández have been in charge of carrying out the rehabilitation, which has had an investment of 16,032.50 euros.
The mayor recalled that the San Cebrián cruise, from the 16th century, remained in the Carvajal square until the 18th century to remember the presence of the disappeared church of San Cebrián, of which only the crypt known as the Cave of Salamanca remains. Later, it was moved to the cemetery to accentuate its sacred character. «The constant exposure to inclement weather had caused an advanced deterioration of the cruise, which is why the transfer to its original location has always been ruled out. For this reason, the City Council decided to place a bronze and granite replica in Carvajal square made by the artist Óscar Alvariño, which was presented in February,» García Carbayo pointed out.
In parallel, and hand in hand with the Diocese and Parque Cementerio, work began on the restoration of the original cruise, which has been completed after a month of work. The municipal councilor pointed out that the rehabilitation has been carried out «with scrupulous respect for the work and its material and immaterial value.»
During the restoration, the entire piece was cleaned. The materials were consolidated using ethyl silicate. The volume losses were palliated as much as possible, and the cracks where water penetrated were closed. Likewise, a new finish of the horizontal crossbar of the cross was carved in Villamayor stone. The right leg and foot part was not reconstructed to avoid falling into a false historical context, and a chromatic reintegration and a protective treatment with products compatible with the stone were applied.
García Carbayo concluded by ensuring that it is a «formidable and necessary» work so that the people of Salamanca and visitors can admire one of the few cruises that are preserved from the many that Salamanca had and that recalls that disappeared church of San Cebrián.
Signage and guided tours project in the cemetery
On the other hand, the mayor of Salamanca took advantage of the visit to the San Carlos Borromeo municipal cemetery to announce that a signage and audio guides project is being finalized, which will be complemented by a program of guided tours that will tour both the tombs of illustrious figures, the pantheons with artistic value, and the main areas of interest in the cemetery, such as the San Cebrián cruise.