The exhibition, titled 'La Sociedad de Condueños. 175 años de historia' (The Society of Condueños. 175 years of history), has been organized in collaboration with the Alcalá de Henares City Council through its Department of Culture. The display, which can be visited until May 10, recounts the historical work of heritage protection carried out by this institution in Alcalá since 1851, using various documentary and iconographic resources.
The inauguration was attended by municipal representatives, including the first deputy mayor, accompanied by other members of the Corporation, as well as the president of the Sociedad de Condueños and members of its Administrative Commission. Representatives from various social and cultural entities and groups in the city were also present.
“"A complex of buildings and cloisters that not only constituted an architectural jewel in itself but also symbolized the golden age and the best contribution of our city to the history, knowledge, and arts of Spain."
The first deputy mayor emphasized the institution's significance, which managed to unite the will and economic contributions of Alcalá citizens to acquire and preserve the university block, centered around the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, from ruin and plunder. She highlighted that thanks to this pioneering act of civic rebellion, today it is possible to enjoy a University that is the only one in Spain recognized as a World Heritage Site, along with the historic city of Alcalá, which shares this honor and is one of the fifteen universal cities in the country.
The exhibition offers a historical journey through a carefully selected collection of original documents, paintings, and photographs. These elements bear witness to the determination of Alcalá citizens who, starting in 1850, mobilized against the critical situation of the old university block. Their intervention was decisive in preventing the degradation of the Cisnerian precinct after the University's relocation to Madrid, setting a unique precedent in civil heritage protection in Spain.
The exhibition's narrative underscores the Society's value as a guarantor of the city's architectural integrity, a crucial factor for its inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage list. The display invites reflection on the safeguarding of architectural heritage and civic commitment, linking the historical past of the Cisnerian University with the present of Alcalá de Henares.
