Panteón Pardo wins second place in Spanish Cemetery Contest

The Panteón Pardo, located in the Ciriego Cemetery, has been awarded second place for Best Artistic Piece in the 10th Spanish Cemetery Contest organized by Enalta. The award recognizes the historical, artistic, and environmental value of cemeteries across Spain.

Constructed in 1917, the Panteon Pardo is a neo-Romanesque-Byzantine structure designed by architect Javier González Riancho. It is noted for integrating architecture, sculpture, and painting. A key feature is its dome, painted in fresco by Gerardo de Alvear, depicting a celestial vault with four praying angels. Recent restoration efforts by the Fundación Santa María de Toraya have recovered the original colors and revealed previously hidden elements, including a pole star and representations of the four evangelists. The site also utilizes 3D photogrammetry for future conservation.