Utrera City Council has completed the repair of the roof of the central courtyard of Casa Surga, damaged by storms in March 2025, and is finalising the reconstruction of two rooms that have been propped up since 2023.
Utrera City Council has carried out an urgent intervention on the roof of the central courtyard of Casa Surga, the 18th-century baroque palace declared a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC). The work, funded by a grant from the Ministry to repair damage caused by weather phenomena, involved an investment of €13,662 and was completed on June 11.
The intervention was necessary after the storms in March 2025, which displaced part of the roof and caused water leaks. The Department of Works and Infrastructure removed the damaged sheets, consolidated the perimeter wall, cleaned and sealed the gutter, waterproofed the tops of the walls and the inside of the gutter, and installed new white lacquered galvanised steel sheets to ensure watertightness. The company Cubiertas Maqueda S.L. was awarded the contract for the work.
At the same time, the City Council is progressing with the reconstruction of two rooms in the building that had already been propped up in June 2023. On August 1, 2025, the Department of Culture launched an emergency project to prevent the collapse of these spaces and to enable external access to the roof. Although the Territorial Delegation of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía authorised the project, a detachment of part of the propped areas in early 2026 forced a modification of the action: it is now not only about preventing the collapse, but also about completely reconstructing the two rooms, which increases the complexity and cost.
The contract for this second phase, amounting to €14,520 and with a timeframe yet to be determined, is currently in the processing stage. With these two interventions, the Utrera City Council has invested nearly €28,000 in the conservation of the building.
Casa Surga, built in 1783 by Francisco Fernández de Abauza, is one of the most emblematic historical buildings in Utrera. Since June 2023, when the current government team resumed its management, it has hosted activities from various municipal departments, associations, brotherhoods, social groups, and educational centres, establishing itself as a cultural meeting point. It is worth noting that the building was inactive for over a year due to scaffolding and tarpaulins on the façade that the previous government did not remove after a painting rehabilitation, which worsened the damage.
Except for the first bay, whose restoration was completed in May 2015, and the rehabilitation of the façade carried out in 2024, the rest of the building presents significant conservation needs, such as water leaks, flooring renewal, and space adaptation. The City Council plans to continue with actions to ensure optimal usage conditions for this socio-cultural centre.
The residents of Utrera will see that, once the works are completed, Casa Surga will be able to continue hosting cultural and social events without structural risks. The City Council hopes that the reconstruction of the two rooms will be completed before the end of the year, although specific timelines will be known after the contract is awarded.
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