Ibiza Begins Restoration of Historic 1884 Ceiling Paintings at Santo Domingo Church in Dalt Vila

11 November 2026 г.

A major restoration project is getting underway at the Church of Santo Domingo, popularly known as El Convent, in Ibiza's historic Dalt Vila. The work will focus on approximately 410 square metres of decorative ceiling paintings dating from 1884, with specialists expected to spend around a year conserving the historic artwork and improving the church's interior lighting.

Scaffolding installation has begun inside the church, which is home to the parish of Sant Pere. The restoration will cover the vaulted ceiling of the central nave, the choir and the presbytery area, preserving an important part of the island's religious and artistic heritage.

Paintings by Mallorcan Artist Vicenç Matas

The decorative paintings were created in 1884 by Mallorcan artist Vicenç Matas. They have formed part of the church's interior for more than 140 years, but the passage of time has affected their condition.

A technical assessment carried out ahead of the restoration identified deterioration associated with ageing materials, historic water leaks and previous interventions. Some earlier restoration work also introduced overpainting that altered parts of the original decorative scheme.

The project aims to stabilise the existing paintings and recover original decorative features wherever sufficient historical evidence remains.

Specialist Conservation Work Expected to Take One Year

The restoration has been entrusted to Català Restauradors S.L., a specialist conservation and restoration company based in Rocafort, Valencia.

Before working directly on the paintings, the team will undertake detailed photographic documentation and material analyses. These preliminary investigations will help determine the condition of the surfaces and identify suitable conservation techniques.

The restoration process will include cleaning the paintings and consolidating the original polychrome decoration to stabilise deteriorated sections. Specialists will also remove unsuitable overpainting from previous interventions where appropriate.

Colour reintegration will be carried out selectively, using documented historical evidence to guide the restoration. The intention is to recover the appearance of the original decoration without introducing unsupported details or colours.

The work will also extend to the presbytery area, where cleaning and colour adjustments are planned.

New Lighting to Improve the View of the Historic Artwork

Alongside the conservation of the paintings, the project includes improvements to the lighting system in the vaulted ceiling and presbytery.

The upgraded lighting is intended to make the decorative details more visible, allowing visitors and the local community to appreciate the artwork and architectural features of the church more clearly.

The combined project therefore addresses both the physical preservation of the paintings and the way they can be seen within the historic interior.

Funding for Church Restoration Projects Across Ibiza

The restoration forms part of wider efforts to maintain and preserve religious heritage across Ibiza.

The Brotherhood of the Most Holy Christ of the Cemetery has referred to a general allocation of €1.3 million approved by the Balearic Government under the 2026–2027 Sustainable Tourism Tax programme. The funding is intended to support restoration and maintenance projects at several churches across the island.

However, the €1.3 million figure relates to the wider programme and not exclusively to El Convent. The specific budget assigned to the Santo Domingo Church restoration has not been made public in the information available.

Preserving an Important Part of Dalt Vila's Heritage

The Church of Santo Domingo is one of the notable religious buildings within Dalt Vila, Ibiza's historic walled centre. Dating from the seventeenth century, it is recognised for its architectural features, historic altarpiece, side chapels and decorative interior.

The conservation of its 1884 ceiling paintings represents another step in protecting the island's historic buildings and artistic heritage.

With approximately one year of restoration work planned, the project aims to preserve the paintings for future generations while improving the visibility of an important artistic feature of one of Ibiza Town's historic churches.

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