# Colegio de la Compañía > former Jesuit school in Pontevedra, Spain **Wikidata**: [Q104635907](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104635907) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_the_Society_of_Jesus_in_Pontevedra) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colegio-de-la-compania ## Summary The Colegio de la Compañía, also known as the Edificio Sarmiento, is a former Jesuit school located in Pontevedra, Spain, that currently serves as the primary building for the Pontevedra Museum. Originally constructed in 1714 as an institution for the Catholic religious institute of the Society of Jesus, this Baroque monument is now a designated heritage site housing art exhibitions. It stands as a significant cultural landmark on Calle Sarmiento, commemorating Jesus Christ and functioning as a central hub for the region's artistic and historical preservation. ## Key Facts * **Inception Date:** The building was established in 1714. * **Current Function:** It operates as an art museum and the headquarters for the Pontevedra Museum. * **Original Purpose:** It was built as a school for the Catholic religious institute known as the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). * **Location:** Situated at Calle Sarmiento, 51, in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. * **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 42.43311111111111, Longitude -8.642166666666666. * **Architectural Style:** The structure is designed in the Baroque architecture style. * **Heritage Status:** It holds the designation of *bien de interés cultural* (Asset of Cultural Interest). * **Named After:** The institution honors Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. * **Aliases:** Commonly referred to as "Edificio Sarmiento (Museo de Pontevedra)." * **Native Label:** The original Spanish name is "Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús." * **Digital Presence:** It has a Commons category named "Edificio Sarmiento, Pontevedra" and a Google Knowledge Graph ID of /g/11qqlw5q34. * **Language Coverage:** Information is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Galician, Portuguese, and on Wikimedia Commons. * **Sitelink Count:** The entity has 6 associated sitelinks across Wikipedia and related projects. ## FAQs **What is the current primary use of the Colegio de la Compañía?** The building no longer functions as a school but serves as the main facility for the Pontevedra Museum. It operates specifically as an art museum, providing a dedicated space for the exhibition of art collections in north-west Spain. **Who originally founded this institution and what was its religious affiliation?** It was established by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious institute whose members are bound by religious vows. The school was dedicated to Jesus Christ, reflecting the central figure of the Christian faith and the order's mission. **Where exactly is this monument located and how can it be identified?** The structure is located in the city of Pontevedra, which is the capital of the Pontevedra province and the Rias Baixas region. It can be found at the specific street address of Calle Sarmiento, 51, and is architecturally distinct due to its Baroque style. **What is the historical significance of the building's construction date?** Constructed in 1714, the building predates several major constitutional changes in Spain, including the 1812 Constitution and the 1978 constitution. Its inception occurred during a period of significant dynastic and political shifts in the country, yet it has survived to become a protected heritage site. ## Why It Matters The Colegio de la Compañía is a vital cultural asset because it bridges the gap between religious history and modern public education through its transformation from a Jesuit school to a public art museum. As a designated *bien de interés cultural*, it preserves the architectural legacy of the Baroque era in Galicia, offering a tangible connection to the 18th-century religious and educational landscape of Spain. Its role as the home of the Pontevedra Museum ensures that the region's artistic heritage is curated and displayed within a historically significant monument, making it a cornerstone for tourism, academic study, and local identity in Pontevedra. Without this adaptive reuse, the building might have lost its function as a community space for art and history, severing a link to the city's past as a center of Jesuit education. ## Notable For * **Adaptive Reuse:** Successfully transitioning from a 1714 Jesuit educational facility to a modern art museum and the headquarters of the Pontevedra Museum. * **Architectural Distinction:** Exemplifying Baroque architecture in the north-west of Spain, serving as an imposing structure created to commemorate religious and educational history. * **Heritage Protection:** Holding the prestigious *bien de interés cultural* status, which legally protects its historical and artistic value. * **Religious Dedication:** Being explicitly named after Jesus Christ, serving as a monument to the central figure of Christianity within a former Catholic religious institute. * **Geographic Centrality:** Located in the heart of Pontevedra, the capital of the province, making it a focal point for the Rias Baixas cultural scene. * **Multilingual Recognition:** Maintaining a presence across six distinct language editions of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, highlighting its international cultural relevance. ## Body ### Historical Origins and Religious Context The Colegio de la Compañía was founded in 1714 as an educational institution for the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious institute. This organization is defined as a Roman Catholic community of members bound by religious vows, with Jesus Christ serving as its central figure and namesake. The building was constructed during a complex period in Spanish history, preceding the dynastic union of Aragon and Castile's formalization in 1516 and the later Nueva Planta decrees of 1715. Despite the shifting political landscapes of Spain, including the liberal state of 1812 and the Second Spanish Republic of 1931, the structure has endured. It stands as a monument, an imposing structure created to commemorate the educational and religious mission of the Jesuits in the region. ### Architectural Features and Location Situated at Calle Sarmiento, 51, the building is a prime example of Baroque architecture. Its precise geographic location is marked by the coordinates 42.43311111111111 latitude and -8.642166666666666 longitude, placing it firmly within the city of Pontevedra. Pontevedra itself is a municipality in north-west Spain, serving as the capital of the Pontevedra province and the Rias Baixas area. The structure is recognized as a *bien de interés cultural*, a heritage designation that underscores its architectural and historical value. The building is often referred to by the alias "Edificio Sarmiento," linking it directly to its street location and its current institutional identity. ### Current Function and Institutional Role Today, the Colegio de la Compañía functions as an art museum, a classification defined as a building or space for the exhibition of art. It serves as the physical home and headquarters for the Pontevedra Museum, an organization established on December 30, 1927. This relationship means the former school building is now an integral part of the museum's operations, housing its collections and exhibitions. The entity is part of the broader Pontevedra Museum organization, which is based in Spain and operates under the country's cultural framework. The museum's inception in 1927 marked the beginning of its formal organization, but the building itself has served as its anchor since its conversion from a school. ### Digital Presence and Global Recognition The entity maintains a robust digital footprint with a Google Knowledge Graph ID of /g/11qqlw5q34. It is categorized on Wikimedia Commons under "Edificio Sarmiento, Pontevedra," facilitating the sharing of visual media related to the site. The Wikipedia title "College of the Society of Jesus in Pontevedra" is available in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Galician, Portuguese, and on the Commons platform. This multilingual availability ensures that information about the building is accessible to a global audience. The entity has a sitelink count of 6, indicating its presence across various language editions of Wikipedia and related projects, reflecting its status as a notable cultural landmark. ### Relationships and Classification The Colegio de la Compañía is classified under multiple distinct categories: it is a former school building, a monument, an art museum, and a site associated with a Catholic religious institute. It is directly related to the concept of Jesus Christ, who is the central figure of Christianity and the entity after whom the school was named. The building is also linked to the broader context of Spain, a country in southwestern Europe with territories in Africa, and specifically to the city of Pontevedra. Its relationship with the Pontevedra Museum is dual in nature; it is both part of the organization and contains the organization's primary facilities. This complex web of relationships highlights its evolution from a religious educational center to a secular cultural institution.