Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Basilic unveils a new ornamental lighting scheme thanks to the collaboration between Villanueva de la Jara Town Council, the Diocese of Cuenca and Fundación Iberdrola España
- The project, backed by funding of €150,000, has delivered a lighting scheme that enhances Basilica’s exterior architectural and ornamental features, helping to showcase the historical and cultural heritage of Castile-La Mancha.
- The intervention consists of a state-of-the-art LED lighting upgrade that will reduce both the Basilica’s energy consumption and its CO₂ emissions.
- This initiative forms part of the activities marking Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary, for which the company has prepared an extensive programme of events across all the regions where it operates.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Basilic in Villanueva de la Jara (Cuenca) has unveiled a new ornamental lighting scheme thanks to the collaboration between Villanueva de la Jara Town Council, the Diocese of Cuenca and Fundación Iberdrola España. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the President of Castile-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page; the Chairman of Fundación Iberdrola España, Jaime Alfonsín; the Mayor of Villanueva de la Jara, Johanna León; and Antonio Fernández Ferrero, Vicar General of the Diocese of Cuenca. Also present were the Foundation’s Director, Ramón Castresana; Iberdrola’s Regional Delegate, Óscar Narros; Fundación Iberdrola España’s Head of Art and Culture, Antonio Collada; the First Vice-President of Castile-La Mancha, José Luis Martínez Guijarro; the Regional Minister for Education, Culture and Sport, Amador Pastor; the President of Cuenca Provincial Council, Álvaro Martínez Chana; Member of Parliament for Cuenca, Luis Carlos Sahuquillo; the Regional Government Delegate in Cuenca, María Ángeles López; the Provincial Delegate for Education, Culture and Sport, Gustavo Martínez; representatives of the municipal corporation; the parish priest of Villanueva de la Jara, Javier Luciano Cano Mujeriego; as well as representatives from Cuenca Provincial Council, the architectural practice DIRDAM36 and Varona LEDS, the company responsible for the technical implementation of the project.
The intervention has focused on several key aspects, including the use of soft, warm light designed to enhance the church’s late Gothic architecture. Particular emphasis has been placed on the building’s remarkable stonework, the vegetal decoration of the original façade, the rose window, the mullion, and a small sculpture of the Virgin and Child housed in a niche. A total of 79 luminaires have been installed across the exterior of the building, with a total installed capacity of 4,478 W.
During the inauguration, the President of Castile-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, highlighted the longstanding collaboration with Fundación Iberdrola España in restoring and promoting the region’s historical and artistic heritage. He expressly thanked the company for its commitment and acknowledged the contribution of Iberdrola Chairman Ignacio Galán, noting that “not all companies allocate part of their budget to collaborating with the public sector” and that Castile-La Mancha can “bear witness” to Iberdrola’s continued support. “We can be proud of this partnership because it serves the public interest and leaves a positive legacy in our towns and cities,” said García-Page, who reiterated his gratitude to Fundación Iberdrola España for its “affection and recognition” towards Castile-La Mancha.
Mayor Johanna León stated: “Today is a very special day for our municipality because we see a project that we considered a priority from the outset become a reality. This new lighting scheme not only enhances the beauty of our Basilica but also highlights one of Villanueva de la Jara’s most important landmarks, allowing residents and visitors alike to view a heritage site that forms part of our history, identity and civic pride from a fresh perspective.”
The Mayor also expressed her gratitude “to Fundación Iberdrola España, the Government of Castile-La Mancha and the Diocese of Cuenca for making a project of this scale possible”, stressing that “when institutions work hand in hand, major projects can also reach smaller municipalities, helping to preserve, protect and project our heritage into the future”.
Speaking on behalf of the Bishop of Cuenca, Monsignor José María Yanguas Sanz, Antonio Fernández Ferrero, Vicar General of the Diocese of Cuenca, said: “We would like to express our gratitude to Fundación Iberdrola España for enhancing and showcasing yet another ecclesiastical monument within our Diocese, in this case the Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption in Villanueva de la Jara. These initiatives help safeguard our diocesan heritage, highlight its architecture and reinforce the spiritual and religious purpose for which these buildings were originally created. We are equally grateful to all the institutions involved. Once again, we see how collaboration between private initiative, public administrations and the Catholic Church produces highly positive outcomes for both worshippers and the wider public, who are able to enjoy this exceptional heritage.”
Jaime Alfonsín, Chairman of Fundación Iberdrola España, stated that “this new lighting scheme demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to preserving our historical and cultural heritage and reflects the close relationship we have with this locality and with Castile-La Mancha as a whole”. Alfonsín also underlined the significance of this year, which marks Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary, celebrated through a wide range of initiatives under the banner ‘125 Years of Light’.
125 Years of Light: a wide-ranging programme for society
This agreement forms part of the extensive programme of activities designed for 2026 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Iberdrola’s founding. The programme includes art exhibitions, music festivals, technology showcases and social initiatives. Under the slogan ‘125 Years of Light’, the company will launch activities aimed at employees, customers, shareholders and the general public, seeking to share its legacy with society while also communicating its vision for the future and its strong commitment to the communities in which it operates
Fundación Iberdrola España: promoting art and culture
One of Fundación Iberdrola España’s principal areas of activity is the protection, conservation and enhancement of Spain’s historical and artistic heritage. Its Lighting Programme aims to carry out interventions in landmark buildings by installing or upgrading interior and exterior lighting systems, helping to highlight the value of historical-artistic heritage sites. Since 2012, investment in the programme across Castile-La Mancha has totalled €1,229,238, contributing to the enhancement of 15 heritage assets, including the interior lighting of the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue in Toledo; Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Basilic in Talavera de la Reina; the exterior lighting of Sigüenza Cathedral and its Plaza Mayor; the Roman Bridge in Talavera de la Reina; the historic windmills of Campo de Criptana in Ciudad Real; the Henares Bridge in Guadalajara; the San Antón Bridge in Cuenca (2024); and the lighting of Albacete Cathedral, completed this year.