Lleida's historic Seu Vella and the Museu de Lleida recently launched their first joint guided tour, connecting the city's ancient cathedral with its art collection. The new initiative offers a unique opportunity to explore the monumental building and the artworks it once housed.
The programme, titled "From Seu Vella to the Museum of Lleida: another look", physically and symbolically links the two institutions, according to officials. It highlights the architecture and the historical and artistic heritage preserved from the Seu Vella. The tour includes approximately 30 pieces from the cathedral's original collection now housed in the museum. This activity is described as an exercise in collective historical memory, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the Seu Vella's past and the journey of its artistic treasures.
Uncovering Seu Vella's Past
The exceptional Seu Vella building was stripped of its contents after its conversion into a military barracks following Lleida's fall in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1707. This military use continued until 1948. The complex also served as a Francoist concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War until August 1940.
A significant portion of the building's rich artistic content, including altarpieces, tapestries, stone sculptures, paintings, and even the wooden choir, was either lost or distributed among other diocesan temples. However, the Museu de Lleida has preserved some pieces from this former splendour.
Following its premiere this past Sunday, the guided tour will be repeated once a month until November, offering further opportunities for residents and visitors to explore this unique connection.
