By: ELOISE WALTON
CARLOS AQUINO, the priest at Silves Cathedral, has been assured that work on the cathedral will commence early next year following a meeting with Mário Vieira Carvalho, the Ministry of Culture Secretary of State.
The Resident has been following the progress of the campaign to renovate Silves Cathedral, (see The Resident issue July 20, page 6), where the roof is at risk of imminent collapse according to a report carried out by the Ministry of Culture.
The building, which became a national monument in 1992, will cost an estimated 360,000 euros plus IVA to repair.
Thanks to the campaigning of Carlos Aquino and local residents in Silves, Mr Aquino was invited to Lisbon where he personally presented the severe state of disrepair to Mário Carvalho, which included photographic evidence.
“Mr Carvalho showed a genuine interest in the immediate resolution of the situation and stated that Silves Cathedral is one of the Ministry of Culture’s priorities”, said Carlos Aquino, adding: “As a structural study has already been carried out, I was told that the work will be put out to tender so that renovation may start at the end of this winter”.
Elísio Summavielle, the president of IGESPAR, Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico, the national institute for the management of architectural and archaeological heritage, also promised Carlos Aquino that he would personally visit Silves Cathedral and meet Isabel Soares, the President of Silves Câmara, in September. Carlos Aquino told the Resident: “I have faith and believe that the Ministry of Culture will undertake this project as they have promised.”
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