Port accessThe restoration of the sculpture in honour of the Virgin of Carmen, in the fishing port of Santurtzi, has been completed. The sculpture, fashioned by the local Santurtzi artist Ricardo Iñurria, was originally unveiled to the public in 1950, and has since become one of the town’s most iconic landmarks, attracting many visitors to the area.
Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the monument, the Port Authority has invested nearly 18,000 euros in this restoration, which has entailed cleaning, repairing and protecting the sculpture to ensure its proper conservation. More precisely, the work has involved removing dirt, seaweed and rust, repairing joints and damaged areas and cleaning metal elements. Finally, a protective treatment has been applied to prevent deterioration due to humidity and the passage of time, ensuring that the statue remains in good condition for as long as possible.
At the unveiling ceremony of the restored statue, Karmele Tubilla, mayoress of Santurtzi, pointed out that the monument “presides over the port as an image of protection, tradition and devotion for all generations of the people of Santurtzi, and it is our duty to preserve it. It is an icon of our town which, thanks to the support of the Port Authority, has been restored in such a special year, its 75th birthday, and you can see the fantastic work that’s been done.”
For his part, Ivan Jimenez, president of the Port Authority, highlighted the work of the sculptor from Santurtzi and emphasised “the importance of this statue for the town and for the port itself.” He also mentioned its popular origins and stressed the sense of belonging and maritime history it generates in the town.
