Partnerships

Hispania Nostra Awards

Fundación Banco Santander and the association Hispania Nostra organise these awards every year to reward best practices in the protection of historic and natural heritage.

In 2021, the landscape intervention award went to the actions taken to restore the French Camino de Santiago as it passes through the surroundings of Yesa reservoir (Zaragoza).

In the category of the conservation of heritage as a factor of economic and social development, the award went to the reconstruction, and restoration into a cultural centre, of the old British naval hospital of Isla del Rey and its annexes in the port of Mahón (Menorca).

The award for cultural and natural heritage signage went to the ‘Andando Córdoba’ initiative, which proposes seven walks around the least known and least visited monuments in the city's historic quarter. 

This edition also saw the creation of a special award to recognise the excellent endeavours of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda (Málaga) in managing its heritage.

Restoration of the Convent of Santo Domingo

The foundation collaborated with Banco Santander territorial management in Valencia in restoring the entrance to the Chapel of the Kings. This building forms part of the group of buildings of the old Convent of Santo Domingo, considered to be one of Valencia’s late Gothic architectural gems. Building work on it began in 1439 by order of Alfonso V the Magnanimous and was finished by his successor John II in 1463.

Preliminary studies were carried out in 2021 to determine the most appropriate actions to undertake the future restoration of the wooden door, the coats of arms, the arch and the portico to the church.

La Granda Courses

The Fundación collaborates in the organisation of the courses given by the La Granda association in Avilés (Asturias), which every summer brings together a group of experts from diverse spheres of science, industry and Spanish culture. 

The programme for this latest edition dedicated several lectures to throwing further light on historic events, such as the origins of the Kingdom of Asturias and the Reconquest of Spain. Others explored the relationship between politics and culture in the reign of Alfonso X to commemorate eight hundred years since his birth.

Audience safety at the courses was duly ensured by tightening up hygienic measures and restricting the capacity at the event's new venue, the Hotel Palacio de Avilés. Audios of the conferences were made available to the general public on the association's website.