Archaeological work at the site where the future Santa Infancia de Elda kindergarten will rise has uncovered a landmark discovery in the city’s recent history: the crypt of the monastery of Our Lady of the Angels, a Franciscan foundation ordered to be built in the mid-sixteenth century under Don Juan Perez Calvillo de Coloma.
Researchers conducting the excavations are exploring the possibility that this crypt may hold the remains of members of the Coloma family. Throughout the investigations, bone fragments, pottery shards, and mold pieces were found, documented, and later transferred to the Elda Archaeological Museum for ongoing study and preservation.
Some of the ceramic remnants unearthed from the tomb were photographed as part of the documentation. They will contribute to the museum’s growing collection and the broader understanding of the site’s historical context.
This research aims to determine whether the discovered bone fragments belong to the Coloma family and, thus, to the Counts of Elda, or whether they date from the monastery’s Franciscan inhabitants who lived there for centuries.
The recovered cellar spans roughly ten square meters of underground space and forms part of a monumental building. From Elda’s historical records, the complex extended about 40 meters in length and 50 meters in width, covering around 2,000 square meters and ranking it among the era’s largest constructions, second only to the castle. Archaeologists have also revealed portions of the monastery walls and several interior rooms, shedding light on the layout and architectural features of the past.
Images show traces of paint on a rock in the cellar, offering clues about the decorative schemes and materials used in this once grand structure. The excavation work continues to uncover more about the monastery’s hidden chambers and the wall configurations that defined its spaces.
The mayor of Elda, Rubén Alfaro, commented that this discovery illuminates one of the city’s archaeological landmarks and could mark a turning point in the study of Elda’s history and the restoration of its cultural heritage. He noted that the timing coincides with the Year of Coloma and the event highlighting the Coloma family’s historical significance during a period of notable local prominence.
Traces of paint appear again as researchers scout the rock faces in the cellar, hinting at the aesthetic choices of the past and the techniques used to preserve color and form in the long-vanished spaces.
The excavations are taking place as part of the construction process for the new Santa Infancia kindergarten, funded by the Edificant Plan and supported by the Ministry of Education. While the initial findings do not appear to delay the construction timeline, the City Council will seek a meeting with the Generalitat Valenciana to determine the appropriate degree of protection for the architectural remains and the potential improvements revealed by the dig.
The site of the former Santa Infancia school, where the archaeological work is underway, has become a focal point for both researchers and residents eager to connect with Elda’s past.
Spanish Monarchy
Gabriel Segura, the official historian of Elda, spoke at a Coloma Year event about the colony’s broader impact. He emphasized that the Colomas are not as widely known in the city as they should be, yet their prominence extended beyond Valencia. Across the Habsburg era, the Coloma family played a pivotal role in the Hispanic Monarchy and contributed significantly during the Flanders Wars. Segura urged that the family’s contributions be recognized in school curricula, placing special emphasis on Juan Coloma, who founded the lineage in Elda while seeking to distance himself from a Jewish past in Borja.
Local archivist and historian Fernando Matallana added that the Coloma legacy is substantial, both in material works and in documentary records that have survived in archives. He noted that the Coloma family left a powerful imprint on the Kingdom of Valencia. Despite his Jewish roots, Mosen Juan Coloma served as the king’s secretary and built a significant financial and social network that helped the family rise in status. His work as a lender to monarchs contributed to the family’s enduring influence.