• Fundación Iberdrola has enhanced the temple with an innovative project that achieves a 50% improvement in its energy efficiency and saving in atmospheric emissions of 320 kg of CO2 per year
  • With an investment of 90,000 euros, the works are another example of Iberdrola’s commitment to Galicia and its commitment to the conservation of the region’s historical and artistic heritage

The interior of the church of the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua de Monforte de Lemos (Lugo), has a new artistic lighting system. This is one of the most emblematic buildings of the town, listed as a Cultural Interest Asset, where uniform and medium type lighting has been installed that acts on the nave, the transept, and the chancel, respecting the environment and reducing light pollution. Fundación Iberdrola has carried out this innovative project that enhances and adds value to the church with a more efficient system.
The objective is to highlight the height and depth of the church, with an installation that emphasizes the monumentality of the vaults. The main altarpiece is given special attention with small projectors that focus on certain areas, so that it does not lose its volume with the lighting, and the side chapels have been given a general illumination.

In addition, a specific design has been made with a very careful installation for the alabaster luminaires that hang on the two sides of the nave and illuminate the worship area. LED technology has been used for this purpose. A total of 80 luminaires have been installed, combined with more than 200 meters of LED strips.

The total installed power is 3,167W. This represents an efficiency of 50% compared to the previous installation and will save 320 kg of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere per year. In addition to the energy savings, the project meets the objective of offering versatility so that the new lighting can respond to different uses of the church.

The inauguration of the lighting was attended by the first vice president of the Xunta de Galicia, Francisco Conde; the deputy mayor of the City of Monforte de Lemos, Gloria Prada; the director of the Colegio de los Padres Escolapios, Pablo Blanco and the president of the Fundación Iberdrola España, Fernando García.

The execution of the project, which is part of Iberdrola’s Lighting Program, has involved an investment of 90,000 euros. It is one more of the company’s commitments to Galicia and its permanent purpose of promoting the social value of culture and conservation of the historical and artistic heritage of the region.

Since 2011, the program has allocated more than 3 million euros and has led to the improvement of more than 40 monuments in Spain, including the Cathedral of Avila, the interior of the Cathedral of Palencia and the New Cathedral of Salamanca, the historic Roman Bridge of Alcántara in Cáceres, the facade of the Congress of Deputies, the Palace of the Supreme Court in Madrid, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the Cathedral of Sigüenza.

Colegio de Ntra. Sra. de la Antigua Church

It is a building of the sixteenth century, which has the declaration of BIC. Built-in the Herrerian style, it is often referred to as the Galician Escorial for being one of the few manifestations of this style in Galicia. Work on the school began in 1593 under the patronage of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, considered by many to be the last great ecclesiastical prince of the Renaissance, archbishop of Seville, benefactor of Monforte, and patron of the arts.