La programación de 800 años de la Happy Urraca: conciertos, exposiciones y seminarios.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism, Youth, and Sports, Pastor José Luis Pérez; and the abbot of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada and responsible for the museum areas of the Monastery of Cañas, Francisco José Suárez, presented this morning in the Chapel of Charity the ‘Legacy of Light’ Program, organized programming in the west of 800th of María Urraca de Cañas (1170-1262). Monastery of María de San Salvador.

A varied and extended program of activities, taking place during this year 2025, will enhance the figure of the Blessed as the protagonist and promoter of a monastery that is a European gem worth visiting, so the government in Rioja supports a program that will appreciate a monument that allows an extraordinary visit and an excellent cultural and artistic experience.

To celebrate 800 years since the election of Blessed Urraca, as the abbot of the monastery of Cañas, as Suáz explained, «We wanted to enhance this date with a complete series of important events, such as a cycle of nine concerts, four exhibitions of many monasteries as important and the best in the world.»

In addition, the Mayor of Cañas, Roberto de Corta; President Sclick, Francisco Javier Sagredo; Nuria Estefanía, on behalf of the Association of Miniatures and Dollhouses in La Rioja; the craftsman of Nativity scenes José Gonçalves; The President of the Vocal Assembly in La Rioja, Domingo Sobrón; The director of the PÍccolo and Saxo School, Irene García; The director of the young choir of the PÍccolo and Saxo Music School, David Ortega, and the tenor Jorge Elías.

Also, the Riojan singer and composer Vică Purón, the Arts Award in La Rioja in 2017 for his international projection and social commitment, is also part of the program and sent a video message that participants could watch during the program presentation.

The first scheduled event on the calendar is the opening of the exhibition «The Blessed María Urraca: Faith and Adventures in the Playmobil World,» which will open next week and can be visited in the monastery’s cabinet until the end of the year. The Sclick Association recreated with great faith and an occasional eye for childhood, in which this illustrious Rioja and some of the highlights of her life lived.

Additionally, the monastery itself was reproduced with great precision, with scenes that surprise with their realism, such as the church area with the altar or even the chapter room with the famous tomb of Blessed María Urraca. The exhibition section will be complemented by three other tests that will run until the end of the year.

In May, the exhibition of association models in miniature and dollhouses from La Rioja will be added, and in July, the exhibition «Mary in the Hearts of People: Iconography and Faith» will be included, gathering a valuable collection of works from dioceses in the sacristy and the next space. This Marian display will be divided into four spaces: the childhood of Jesus, the passion, the glory, and the popular piñad, each of which will include allegorical images.

And on the Maculat bridge, there will be a new edition of the Nativity scenes exhibition, which, along with those installed in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo in Calzada and the Monastery in San Francisco, make up the most complete Nativity route. A large model with game figures, Nativity, Olot, and even mechanical nativities.

One of the main attractions of the «easy heritage» program will be the musical poster, which will alternate established figures with young talents. Francisco José Suárez said, «We are very grateful for the enthusiasm and interest that everyone has shown in participating in this anniversary. We have managed to gather as a pure call, undoubtedly one of the most universal Rioja.»

Furthermore, «we will have the magnificent Riojan tenor Jorge Elías, a sure value that is synonymous with good quality and work,» Suárez said. «Additionally, we will accompany the vocal assembly of La Rioja: an excellent mixed choir, with live music and careful staging, which always makes you listen, as it is able to adapt its repertoire to each performance; in this case, it will do so at the Cañas monastery and contribute to its splendor.»

«And with them,» Suáz explained, «we consider it very important to give a voice to young people, as they will be responsible tomorrow for maintaining our heritage and reference points. And you can’t love something without knowing it. No one better for this than the members of the wonderful young choir of Píccolo and Saxo, who for the first time.»

Following the chronological order, the scheduled actions so far are as follows: April 26 (7:00 p.m.): Euroamerican Orchestra in Madrid. ? May 31 (7:00 p.m.): The vocal ensemble of La Rioja. ? June 21 (6:00 p.m.): the young choir of the school in Piccolo and Saxo Music, during the European Music Day. ? June 25 (7:00 p.m.): Coral San Antonio de Iralabarri. ? July 13 (7:00 p.m.): call Purón. August 2: the joyful gospel choir. August 9: Javier Moya (guitarist); August 16: Jorge Elías (tenor) and September 13 (9:00 p.m.): Bilbao Choral Society.

Regarding the price for recitals, Suárez specified that «the only thing you have to pay is the entrance to the monastery, which amounts to 5 euros. That is, the visit to the monument includes access to the concert. If someone wants to take a special guided tour, the price is 10 euros, and the tour takes place one hour before the concert.» Those who wish to reserve tickets can do so at E-MAIL E-Mail at the email address e-mail@monteriodecanas.org or in person 30 minutes before each concert starts.

The third pillar on which the «easy heritage» program is based is the scientific one. «We consider it of special importance to deepen the knowledge of this illustrious Rioja and to spread his figure and work with rigor,» Suárez said.

To achieve this, two seminars were organized. The first will take place on June 21 at the Monastery itself, under the leadership of the Institute of Studies in Riojan, and details will be released later. And on October 4, the second seminar will take place, with five high-level speakers.

The heritage delegate of the diocese in Calahorra and to Calzada-Logroño, Jesús Merino, will delve into the happy figure of Urraca. Alfonso Sánchez will focus on the exhibition area of the monastery. Architects Iñaki Gómez and José Ignacio Amat, specialized in the restoration of historical and artistic heritage, especially religious, in the abbey building.

The abbots of the monastery in San Pedro de Cardeña, Roberto de Iglesia, will talk about the Cistercian order; And the lawyer and labor law professor at the University of Deusto Fernando Manrique, on the family situation of the Blessed. It is not surprising that Mª Urraca was the youngest daughter of the founders of the monastery: Count Lope Díaz de Haro and Aldonza Ruiz de Castro, from the reign of Vizcaya. In fact, she was the aunt of the founder of Bilbao, Diego López de Haro.

FUENTE