The inauguration was attended by the then archbishop of Zaragoza, Elías Yanes; the Aragon Government’s culture minister, Javier Callizo; Caja Inmaculada chairman Fernando Gil; the Ministry of Culture’s director of Fine Arts, Joaquín Puig de la Bellacasa; and the government delegate in Aragon, Eduardo Ameijide.
The work required significant technical efforts, including environmental and stability analyses, metal treatments and volumetric reintegration. According to the restoration’s director, Ana Laborda, the project followed the principle of "conservative treatment with minimal intervention," with the aim of preserving the original elements as much as possible.
The chapel’s restoration was part of the cooperation agreements signed in December 1999 by the participating institutions. These agreements also provided for the restoration of the murals in the Homage Tower of Alcañiz Castle, the High Altarpiece of Barbastro Cathedral and the organ at the Church of San Juan el Real in Calatayud.
During the inauguration, Elías Yanes described the joint effort as "a factor of unity in harmony," while Javier Callizo highlighted cooperation between public administrations in developing cultural projects for the benefit of citizens.
The chapel’s history dates back to the 16th century. It was commissioned by Hernando de Aragón, grandson of Ferdinand the Catholic and archbishop of Zaragoza, as a funerary space for himself and his mother. Blessed in 1557, it consisted of three alabaster ensembles arranged like a triptych, designed by Charles de Mendibe, who was also responsible for expanding the cathedral at the request of Hernando de Aragón.
The restoration thus returned to La Seo one of its most notable Renaissance ensembles, closely linked to Zaragoza’s history. This is how Aragón Digital reported it 25 years ago, in the original article on the restoration of the Chapel of San Bernardo.
