Luis Ayllón
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun carrying out improvement works on the structure of the main halls of the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, in the Monadelschi Palace, in Rome.
This was recently confirmed by the ambassador, Isabel Celáa, former spokesperson and Minister of Education during the first Government of Pedro Sánchez, in a letter in which she responded to some people who had asked her about the interruption of the cultural events that took place in the diplomatic representation.
The ambassador reports that this interruption is due to “major structural work being undertaken in three of the main rooms” of the Monadelschi Palace, also known as the Palace of Spain.
The Monadelschi Palace, which houses the oldest Embassy in the world, is located in Piazza Spagna, in the Italian capital, and was built in the 17th century, so the need for improvements is continuous. In addition to the services of the Embassy, the Palace houses the living quarters of the ambassador and some other members of the diplomatic representation.
The works that the ambassador refers to in her letter affect the Hall of Cardinals and the Hall of Bishops and possibly also the Throne Room. Specifically, it is about restoring the coffered ceilings of those rooms, since their condition could affect the structure of the property.
For this reason, on February 27, the Council of Ministers approved the declaration of emergency to contract the necessary actions, works and services to carry out this restoration, and avoid the danger that the integrity of the property or property could be affected. the people who work or live there.
Specifically, the amount allocated is 496,972.18 euros (VAT included), that is, practically half a million euros, which will be paid to the companies that direct and execute the work, the scaffolding, the manipulation of the electrical service and the displacement of cultural assets existing in those rooms. According to the ambassador’s letter, the works will last until the month of May.
