Restoration work will cover around 410 square metres of the central nave and choir, alongside improvements to the church’s lighting.
The Church of Santo Domingo, located in Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s historic old town, has begun installing scaffolding ahead of a major restoration project involving around 410 square metres of ceiling paintings dating back to 1884, created by Mallorcan artist Matas. The works will also include the presbytery and the renewal of the church’s lighting system, according to information released by the Brotherhood of the Most Holy Christ of the Cemetery (Cofradía del Santísimo Cristo del Cementerio).
For generations, the ceiling paintings of El Convent, one of the most emblematic churches in Dalt Vila, have been part of Ibiza’s religious and cultural life. High above the interior of Santo Domingo Church, their colours and decorative motifs have witnessed the passage of time. But more than a century has also taken its toll. Old water leaks, changes in the materials and previous restoration work have altered parts of a decorative scheme that dates back to 1884.
Now, 142 years after they were created, these historic paintings are set to regain their former appearance. Santo Domingo Church, popularly known as El Convent and currently home to the parish of San Pedro, has started installing the scaffolding required for a restoration project expected to last approximately one year.
The works will cover around 410 square metres of the central nave’s vaulted ceiling and the choir, as well as the area known as the presbytery cloud. The aim is to improve the condition of the paintings and, wherever possible, recover the original decorative features of one of Dalt Vila’s most significant heritage spaces.
More Than a Century of Wear and Tear
The paintings covering the church’s vaulted ceiling were created in 1884 by Mallorcan painter Matas. They have been an integral part of the building’s interior ever since, although their condition has gradually deteriorated over the years.
A technical assessment carried out ahead of the restoration identified several forms of damage caused by ageing materials, historic water infiltration and previous interventions that altered parts of the original decoration.
The restoration will be undertaken by Català Restauradors, S. L., a specialist art conservation and restoration company based in Rocafort, Valencia.
Before any work begins on the paintings themselves, the specialists will carry out detailed photographic documentation and a series of material analyses. These preliminary studies will help them examine the characteristics of the painted surfaces and determine the most appropriate conservation techniques.
The next stage will involve cleaning the paintings and consolidating the original polychrome decoration, with the aim of stabilising deteriorated areas and protecting the elements that remain intact.
One of the most delicate tasks will be the removal of unsuitable overpainting from previous restoration work, which has altered parts of the historic decorative scheme.
Colour reintegration will also be carried out in areas where sufficient evidence remains to reproduce the original tones, without introducing details or colours that cannot be historically documented.
The restoration will also extend to the so-called presbytery cloud, where cleaning and colour adjustment work is planned.
New Lighting to Showcase the Historic Paintings
Restoring the vaulted ceiling will not be the only improvement to El Convent’s interior over the coming months. The project also includes upgrading the lighting in both the vaulted ceiling and the presbytery, making it easier to see the paintings and appreciate the church’s artistic and architectural details.
The project is therefore about more than simply preventing further deterioration. It also aims to make the historic artwork more visible and accessible to those who visit the church.
The paintings dating from 1884 are an important artistic record of Ibiza’s religious and cultural history. Their significance lies not only in the compositions themselves, but also in their presence for more than a century inside one of the island capital’s most representative religious buildings.
The restoration aims to ensure that this heritage is properly preserved and can continue to be appreciated by future generations.
Restoration Funding for Churches Across Ibiza
The latest restoration project adds to a series of conservation works carried out over the years at Santo Domingo Church, a building closely connected to the history of Dalt Vila.
Regarding funding, a statement from the Brotherhood of the Most Holy Christ of the Cemetery recalls that the Balearic Government has approved a general allocation of €1.3 million under the 2026–2027 programme of the Sustainable Tourism Tax (Impuesto de Turismo Sostenible, ITS).
The funding is intended to support restoration and maintenance work at several churches across Ibiza.
However, the €1.3 million allocation covers the various projects planned for different religious buildings across the island. No specific budget for the restoration of El Convent has been disclosed in the information provided.
