This summer marks a decade since Cecilia Gime9nz, a neighbor from Borja, unintentionally sparked a global sensation with a well-meaning but controversial restoration of Ecce Homo, the fresco painted on a wall inside the Santuario de Misericordia in the town once home to about five thousand residents. Over ten years, memes and playful chatter exploded across cross-border networks on Twitter, turning a local mishap into a worldwide phenomenon. The once-faint mural became nearly unrecognizable, drawing more than 300,000 visitors from roughly 120 countries to Borja, elevating Ecce Homo to a notable tourist magnet in the region.
Gime9nz, then 81, undertook the improvements alone to address the mural of Jesus Christ, a relatively modest artwork by artist Eledas Garceda Martednez (1858-1934). She maintained that the parish priest was aware of the mural’s fragile condition and felt compelled to act.
Memoria in September
The arrival of visitors, estimated by the city council at around 40,000 euros in the previous year, comes from a modest entrance fee of three euros. Those funds support the two guides, the sanctuary2s maintenance, and scholarships for orphans. Local resources have also supported residents through a small home for the elderly, with two individuals benefiting to date. The council has launched a broader campaign to showcase Borja’s gastronomy and cultural heritage beyond Ecce Homo.
In addition, a documentary commemorating the past decade is planned for September. Mayor Eduardo Arilla has stood by his well-known neighbor. He remarked to El Perif3dico de Aragf3n that Cecilia is beloved; she did not intend to harm the project, only to help the community, and her efforts paid off. Today, Gime9nz, aged 91, lives in a care facility with her disabled son who has cerebral palsy, while another son faced muscular dystrophy at age 20.
The story of Ecce Homo even touched rights to the image, leading to negotiations between the heirs and the artist Eledas Garceda Martednez. The city council mediated an agreement and opened an exhibition to celebrate Garceda Martedneza0works. Gime9nz had altered a fragile artifact, but her intervention unexpectedly boosted the murala0legacy, fostering a merchandising enterprise in which she received a share of sales before ultimately sharing the proceeds.
international interest
The global spotlight and the elderly resident’s anxiety sparked criticism among restoration professionals who urged careful stewardship of cultural heritage. Expert restorers even traveled to Borja to assess the mural and explore possibilities for recovery of the original image.
Over the past decade, Borja’sEcce Homo has inspired diverse cultural productions, including a comic opera by Andrew Flack and Paul Fowler for a segment on a late-night television program. The 2022 moment saw Gime9nz9s image appear on the sweatshirt of Chilean actress Lorenza Izzo in the ninth episode of the first season of a popular series. The emblematic image has also surfaced in music journalism and television talent competitions.
In November 2013, Borja’s parish priest Florencio Garce9s, who led visits to the site, faced an arrest linked to financial charges involving the congregation and accusations of exploitation and money matters.