The Provincial Council of Zamora has awarded the contract for the "Adaptation of Spaces in the Old Provincial Palace of Zamora for Public Exhibition Use. Phase II" to the company Restauración de Edificios, Artesonados y Retablos Alonso, S.A. (REARASA) for a total of €563,338.34, including VAT. This amount is a 6.10% reduction from the initial budget of €599,934.34, resulting in a savings of €36,596.
This phase of the project is fully financed by the council's own funds and continues the institution's goal of transforming the Old Provincial Palace, located on Calle Ramos Carrión, into a cultural reference point for both the city and the province. The initiative aims to restore and enhance the historical building while creating new spaces for public enjoyment.
The intervention will convert the former tax collection room into a modern temporary exhibition hall, designed to host both exhibitions from the council's own collection and travelling exhibitions of cultural significance. To ensure the appropriate conditions for the preservation and display of artworks, the space will feature a specific climate control system, technical lighting tailored to exhibition needs, security systems, video surveillance, a renewed electrical installation, and the necessary technical facilities for the operation of the exhibitions.
One of the project's key features will be improvements to the access points from Calle Alfonso XII, aimed at enhancing evacuation conditions in accordance with current regulations and facilitating both public entry and the transport of large exhibition pieces. A new adapted staircase and a lift will be constructed to enable safe and efficient movement of artworks between the different floors of the building.
Additionally, various circulation areas and the semi-basement will be upgraded to improve overall accessibility and adapt the building for its future public use. These enhancements will create more functional spaces suitable for hosting diverse exhibitions, improving both technical operations and visitor experiences.
The project also includes measures to preserve the building and address issues affecting its structural elements. Notably, a damaged wooden beam affected by moisture and wood-boring insects will be replaced to eliminate an active problem that could jeopardise heritage elements located on the upper floors. Furthermore, restrooms will be renovated, various installations updated, and essential technical spaces prepared for the proper functioning of the future exhibition centre.
The intervention will cover approximately 500 square metres of the building and will be conducted under permanent archaeological supervision due to the site's historical significance and its location within the Historic Ensemble of Zamora.
This contract represents the second phase of a broader project aimed at recovering and adapting the Old Provincial Palace, reinforcing the cultural dimension of the building while opening new historical spaces to the public with the necessary guarantees of safety, accessibility, and preservation.
Simultaneously, work is underway on the first phase of accessibility and adaptation of the building, also awarded to REARASA, for €538,342.61, including VAT. This initial phase will create a joint Tourist Office for the Provincial Council and the City Council of Zamora, incorporating an accessible lift, a new lobby, public service offices, audiovisual spaces, and a Wi-Fi area. It also includes energy efficiency improvements and restoration of areas affected by moisture.
The accessibility solution features an adapted route from Calle Alfonso XII, with the installation of a double-embarkation lift and a new staircase leading to the main lobby. Additionally, existing restrooms will be reorganised to include an adapted bathroom, a technical space for communications, and staff facilities.
The execution of both phases will allow for coordinated progress in recovering the building, combining improvements in visitor services with the creation of new spaces dedicated to cultural activities. The Old Provincial Palace occupies a prime location in the heart of Zamora's historic centre, adjacent to the Plaza de Viriato and close to the Plaza Mayor. Its surroundings include key cultural and institutional facilities, such as the Provincial Council headquarters, the Parador de Turismo, the Provincial Archive, the Ethnographic Museum of Castilla y León, the Teatro Ramos Carrión, and the Bishopric.
With the planned actions in both phases, the Provincial Council of Zamora is promoting a heritage recovery project that will enhance the Old Provincial Palace's accessibility, energy efficiency, and functionality, while expanding its cultural usage possibilities. The aim is to reclaim this emblematic building for the public, transforming it into an open and accessible space and strengthening the exhibition offerings of the capital of Zamora, thereby contributing to the cultural and tourist dynamism of the city and the entire province.
