Girona cathedral completes restoration works on altarpiece, baptismal font, and door

The Girona Cathedral has completed the restoration works of three important pieces of the cathedral fund.

The altarpiece of Corpus Christi, the baptismal font, and the door of the Apostles have been successfully restored and are now available to visit.

The most significant refurbishment work needed was on the altarpiece, which required two phases and which offers an "explosion of colors."

The second phase began at the end of last year and has brought out the colours previously hidden below a dark layer of varnish and dirt.

The piece is a find of the famous medieval stained glass window and dates between 1562 and 1570. The altarpiece was made by the sculptor Antoni Coll and the painter Perris de la Rocha, and is one of the best examples of Renaissance works of cathedral's collection.

Solvent gel was applied directly to the area cleaned to recover its colours. Minutes afterwards, the gel was removed with a cotton swab, which also cleaned off a layer of dirt, before being clarified with preservation liquids.

The baptismal font was removed at the beginning of the 1990s when it then fell into disuse. It lid is flat and wooden with twelve sides, covered with leather with copper studs and a bottom sheet of zinc for protection.

Experts estimate that it dates back to the 16th century and measures almost two meters wide, and is now back in its original place following the restoration works.

The third refurbishment work made, that of the wooden shutters of the door of the Apostles, began earlier this year and only took some months to complete.

The job consisted of stripping the contemporary green paint that covered it and applying protective oils to the wood. The final appearance will be close to the original image.