The Basílica de Covadonga shines bright thanks to the Endesa Foundation

• The project aims to reduce energy consumption and achieve better lighting quality inside the church through applying the most advanced energy-efficiency techniques and innovative solutions, being environmentally friendly and encouraging energy saving.
• The new lighting system—based on LED technology—consumes 70% less energy compared to a conventional installation and avoids 2.8 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. 

Thanks to the Endesa Foundation, the Basílica de Santa María La Real de Covadonga now has a new architectural and artistic interior lighting system. The project, which aims to reduce energy consumption and achieve better lighting quality inside the church, has focused on accentuating religious and architectural features with highly efficient LED lighting.

This new lighting system was presented at today's event, attended by the Archbishop of Oviedo, Mr Jesús Sanz Montes, the Abbot of the Basílica, Mr Adolfo Mariño Gutiérrez, and the Chairman of the Endesa Foundation, Mr Juan Sánchez-Calero Guilarte.

Mr Juan Sánchez-Calero Guilarte, said that "the Basílica de Covadonga is one of our country's most symbolic religious monuments. It unites the artistic value and architectural beauty of the monument and its surroundings with our country's history and cultural heritage. That is why, here at the Endesa Foundation, we are extremely proud to be able to cast a little more light on this gem that is part of our historical-artistic heritage, and to contribute to preserving its natural environment by significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions".

Artistic input with regard to the Basílica de Covadonga's interior lighting has focused on accentuating religious and architectural features to stand out through using high-efficiency LED lighting intended to optimise visual comfort through a soft colour temperature of 3000K.

To this end, 133 projectors, 64 lights, 45 LED strips and 20 emergency lights have been installed, all with their corresponding wiring, totalling an installed power of 5.2 kW, consuming 70% less energy compared to a conventional installation. An estimated 2.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be saved each year.

The construction of Basílica de Santa María La Real de Covadonga—where Our Lady of Covadonga is worshipped—began in 1877 and was blessed and inaugurated in 1901. The Basílica is a Neo-Romanesque church, designed by Roberto Frassinelli and built by architect Federico Aparici y Soriano. The church boasts a privileged location in Asturias and is made entirely of pink limestone, which sets it apart from its surrounding green landscape.

The monumental lighting installation implemented thanks to the Endesa Foundation applies the most advanced energy-saving techniques and innovative solutions, thereby making a significant contribution towards saving energy. This is also influenced by the experience gained by the Endesa Foundation in this field, which amounts to more than 700 lighting projects for real artistic and patrimonial gems: cathedrals, churches, museums and monuments.

Among the most recent lighting projects, the most notable include the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, the Caliphate City of Medina Azahara in Cordoba, the Capitulary Room in Toledo Cathedral, the Renaissance and Baroque rooms in the MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya — national museum of Catalan art) and the River Nere in Viella. The Basílica de Covadonga is not the Endesa Foundation's first project in Asturias — it has already promoted installation projects for the Santa María La Real de La Corte church and parish in Oviedo, the Santa Cristina de Lena church, the San Martín de Laspra parish and the San Román de Naveces church in Castrillón.

Through this project, the Endesa Foundation once again demonstrates its commitment to culture and its mission to restore and shine a light on Spain's artistic and architectural heritage, viewing this restoration project as crucial in order to rescue one of the most symbolic works of art of the Spanish Renaissance. 

About the Endesa Foundation

The Endesa Foundation, under the leadership of Juan Sánchez-Calero, is committed to social development through its educational projects, vocational training, environmental commitment and cultural initiatives.

The Foundation runs educational projects, promoting initiatives aimed at transforming and innovating education at all levels, as well as fostering academic excellence in universities through scholarships, grants and academic chairs.

It also promotes training projects for employment, with a focus on promoting the talent of people at risk of social exclusion, low-income young entrepreneurs and professionals over the age of 50.

The Foundation also runs environmental projects linked to education on ecological culture and projects to improve the natural environment and industrial use.

Last but by no means least, the Foundation continues to work on shining light on Spain's historical-artistic heritage and the promotion, restoration and conservation of national art and culture.