The Coral Gables Museum will welcome one of Europe’s foremost figures in architectural preservation for a rare stateside appearance on the evening of Thursday, June 19. Eduardo Martínez Moya, the Spanish architect who led the award-winning restoration of La Giralda, the iconic bell tower of Seville, Spain will deliver a master lecture detailing the techniques, research, and philosophy behind the project that earned him the 2024 Hispania Nostra Award.
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the museum, located at 285 Aragon Avenue. It is part of the museum’s ongoing exhibition, La Giralda: Transformation, Influence, Restoration, which explores the history and legacy of the tower, including its architectural impact on Coral Gables itself.
This two-hour program promises to be more than a lecture—it is an opportunity to experience firsthand the story of one of Europe’s most celebrated monuments through the eyes of its modern caretaker.
(Photo: Ingo Mehling)
La Giralda is a landmark of exceptional architectural and historical significance, representing centuries of cultural transformation from its origins as a 12th-century minaret to its present form as a Renaissance bell tower.
Tower with story
Rising nearly 340 feet above Seville’s cityscape, La Giralda is a symbol of the Andalusian capital and a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally built in the 12th century as the minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville under Almohad rule, the tower was later transformed into a Renaissance bell tower after the Reconquista. Its silhouette—a fusion of Islamic and Christian architectural traditions—has influenced civic structures across Europe and the Americas, including Coral Gables’ own city landmarks.
The museum’s current exhibition draws attention to that cross-cultural architectural lineage, making the visit of Martínez Moya not only timely but deeply relevant to the Gables community.
About the lecture
Titled “The Restoration of La Giralda,” the lecture will focus on the recent conservation interventions completed under Martínez Moya’s direction. These efforts required extensive structural diagnostics, careful façade preservation, and historically sensitive engineering solutions—all while the site remained open to thousands of daily visitors.
Martínez Moya is expected to share both technical and cultural insights, illustrating how historic restoration today must navigate the demands of modern urban life without compromising authenticity.
The program will be conducted in Spanish, with live English translation provided, ensuring accessibility for all attendees. Refunds are available up to seven days in advance, though space is expected to be limited.
Career defined by preservation
Martínez Moya’s credentials are as impressive as the tower he helped restore. A graduate of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Sevilla, he has taught structural analysis, pathology, and heritage intervention at the University of Seville for more than three decades. He is also the founder of Edartec Consultores, a firm that has led more than 2,000 projects involving new construction and historic rehabilitation across Spain, Italy, Morocco, Jordan, Mexico, and Portugal.
Among his portfolio are some of the Iberian Peninsula’s most significant landmarks: the Royal Chapel of Seville Cathedral, the Roman Theater of Itálica, and restoration work on the Jesuit Missions of Bolivia. His recognition by Hispania Nostra highlights not only his architectural skill but also his role in promoting heritage as a catalyst for economic and social development.
“His work on La Giralda represents the best of what architectural preservation can achieve,” said museum staff. “It is historically faithful, structurally sophisticated, and publicly accessible.”
Coral Gables connections
The connection between Coral Gables and Seville is more than symbolic. The aesthetic of Coral Gables—the Mediterranean Revival architecture, the emphasis on civic beauty, and the integration of cultural identity into urban planning—draws directly from Spanish precedents like La Giralda.
That linkage is now brought full circle with this lecture and the accompanying exhibition. By hosting a leading voice in the field of European preservation, Coral Gables underscores its own commitment to heritage, design and international cultural exchange.
For architects, engineers, historians, and culturally curious residents alike, the evening offers a chance to explore one of Europe’s most storied towers—through the mind of the man who helped it stand tall into the 21st century.
Event Details:
- Lecture: The Restoration of La Giralda
- Speaker: Eduardo Martínez Moya
- Date & Time: Thursday, June 19, 6-8 p.m.
- Location: Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, FL
- Language: Spanish, with English translation provided
- Tickets: General admission, $25; Museum members, $10.
- Part of: La Giralda: Transformation, Influence, Restoration exhibition
