The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona is refusing to comply with a Spanish Supreme Court order to return the 12th-century Sijena murals to their original monastery in Aragón. Tensions escalated after the museum hosted a listening party for pop star Rosalía in the same hall where the Romanesque masterpieces are housed, leading to accusations from the municipality of Villanueva de Sijena that the museum is endangering the fragile works. MNAC director Pepe Serra has dismissed these concerns as scientifically unfounded, sparking threats of a defamation lawsuit from local officials.
This dispute highlights the complex intersection of regional politics, legal mandates, and conservation ethics in Spain. While the court has ruled in favor of restitution, the museum and international conservation bodies like ICCROM argue that the physical risks of dismantling and transporting the fragile, fire-damaged murals outweigh the legal obligation to return them. The case serves as a significant example of how technical preservation arguments can clash with regional heritage claims and judicial decisions.