The Sixena frescoes - Heritage on trial

The Sixena murals are late 12th to early 13th-century Romanesque wall paintings from the Monastery of Santa María de Sixena in Aragon. They were moved to Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War for preservation and are currently on display at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. On this week’s podcast, we explore the ongoing debate over their place of exhibition, which highlights deeper regional and cultural tensions in Spain. Reporter Cillian Shields visits the MNAC to learn more about the history, restoration and conservation of the frescoes. Art historian Albert Velasco explains the controversy over their location, in which Aragon claims rightful ownership and demands their immediate return to the Sixena monastery, whilst experts highlight the importance of a controlled environment for conservation and warn that moving them may cause irreparable damage due to their fragility. Host Beth Cohen draws parallels with other relocated artworks and raises questions about the responsibility to protect cultural heritage regardless of political disputes. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Compartir és viure” - “To share is to live”. A modern and commonly used phrase in Catalonia, it expresses the idea that sharing is an essential part of a meaningful life, fostering a sense of community and human connection.