Queen joins Queen Letizia of Spain on visit to Patrimonio Nacional workshops in Madrid

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania joined Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain on a visit to employment workshops held by Patrimonio Nacional at the Royal Palace of Madrid on Monday, while accompanying His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Prince Hashem bin Abdullah on an official visit to Spain.

A historical-cultural institution run by the Spanish government, Patrimonio Nacional is responsible for the preservation of an extensive collection of assets representing Spain’s rich national heritage, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.

It also organises a variety of cultural, educational and scientific activities, including training and accreditation opportunities offered under the Patrimonio Nacional School and Employment Workshops Programme.

Welcomed by the President of Patrimonio Nacional, Ana de la Cueva, Their Majesties began their visit at a woodworks workshop, where they were briefed about the Patrimonio Nacional School and Employment Workshops Programme. The programme aims to provide job opportunities and train students in a variety of historical-artistic trades that are highly sought-after in the local labour market.

Their Majesties also stopped by a bookbinding workshop, where students and teachers were working on copying manuscripts and restoring book covers and paintings, before dropping in on a saddlery workshop that teaches the maintenance and restoration of saddles.

To date, Patrimonio Nacional has trained over 5,000 students in 20 different trades, including, gardening, carpentry, stonework, upholstery, gilding, saddlery, artistic bookbinding, watchmaking and historical tailoring.

Among the institution’s current conservation efforts and projects are 24 buildings and more than 160,000 historical-artistic pieces, including, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, gold and silver items, archives, musical instruments, and furniture.

Patrimonio Nacional is also responsible for the preservation of Spain’s natural heritage, comprised of 22,000 hectares of historical gardens, forests, and other natural spaces, which are also home to a large number of wild animals.