Boto Varela, GerardoView profile
Associate Professor
Gerardo Boto Varela is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Art History at the University of Girona, where he has been a faculty member since 1995 and holds the title of 'Professor Titular d'Universitat'. He earned his PhD in Art History from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 1998 and currently serves as Director of the School of Doctoral Studies. His academic affiliations include the Institute of Historical Research and the Research Group in Cultural, Artistic, and Political Studies (9th–21st centuries). His research focuses on medieval religious architecture, particularly Romanesque cathedrals and monastic cloisters in the Iberian Peninsula. He investigates spatial organization, visual programs, liturgical practices, and memorial discourses, combining architectural archaeology with theological and historical analysis. His work emphasizes materiality, perception, and the symbolic function of sacred spaces. Boto Varela's recent publications and edited volumes explore themes such as cathedral urban contexts, episcopal memory, emerging naturalism in sculpture, and the ritual use of space. His research is supported by major grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, La Caixa, and the European Union (Marie Curie Project), and he leads the recognized research group 'Edificis i escenaris medieval de la Corona d'Aragó'. He is a leading figure in medieval art scholarship, serving as scientific editor of Codex Aquilarensis. Revista de Arte Medieval and on the editorial boards of several international journals. He has organized numerous international conferences and collaborative research initiatives across Europe. Scientific Editor, Codex Aquilarensis Member, Scientific Committees of Medievalista , Quintana , Cahiers de Saint Michel de Cuxa , and others Principal Investigator, TEMPLA Research Team Principal Investigator, SGR 110 Research Group Member, Catalan Society of Liturgical Studies Boto Varela has supervised interdisciplinary research projects involving scholars from Spain, France, the Netherlands, and beyond. He promotes knowledge transfer through public engagement, digital documentation (3D scanning, georadar), and the integration of technology in heritage studies. His work bridges academic research and cultural preservation, contributing significantly to the understanding of Europe’s shared medieval architectural heritage.










