The Church of the Assumption in Biar, Spain. A study on its present condition

Abstract

Located in the town of Biar (Alicante) is the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Iglesia de Nuestra Sra. de la Asuncion), one of the buildings in the area that best represents the time of transition between the Late Valencian Gothic and the new Renaissance style coming out of Italy. Since its construction began, from the 15th to the 19th Century, it was successively expanded, altered and transformed according to the styles and needs of the times. Today, it is a prime example of the Valencian Cultural Heritage. To date, there have been very few interventions aimed toward the conservation and maintenance of this building. That is why it was decided to carry out a diagnostic study, involving an analysis of the building's history, architecture, construction and structure; to quantify and assess the extent of damages, as well as to identify possible ways of intervention according to the building's condition. The data-gathering techniques used include, non-destructive tests, digitized planimetric surveys, laboratory analysis of samples, thermal imaging, etc. And the data obtained allows us to conclude that the building's mortar surfaces are in good structural condition. However, the stone material used in its construction, due to its mineral composition and the effect of atmospheric agents, shows serious alterations such as those seen in some elements of the building, especially on its interesting frontispiece.