SANTO DOMINGO.- President Luis Abinader led the opening and handover ceremony this Thursday of the Santo Domingo Cathedral Museum in the Colonial City, a renovated and modernized venue intended to strengthen the tourist, cultural and religious offerings of the historic center.
The restoration of this site is part of the 28 projects being carried out by the Comprehensive Program for Tourism and Urban Development of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo (PIDTUCCSD).
Abinader described the museum as a true treasure and an invaluable part of the Colonial City, emphasizing its importance. "This museum is a true treasure and part of the great treasure that is the Colonial City. This heritage is worth more than a gold mine.".
He considered that this has historical and touristic value and represents everything that is the culture of the country, from evangelization to the immigration that has arrived in the Dominican Republic.
The president, who was accompanied by the first lady Raquel Arbaje, emphasized his government's commitment to the conservation and promotion of museums in the Colonial City, to which he said he has given special attention and will continue to promote because they are a heritage and the repository of all culture.
"We dream that this will be a themed area, that the 13 churches and two cathedrals we have can be part of a special religious tourism tour.".
For his part, the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, defined the opening of this museum as the jewel in the crown and highlighted that, since his arrival in government, Abinader has had a clear vision for the Colonial City, to turn it into a themed zone, a place where families can go in the mornings, enjoy the local gastronomy and tour the entire Colonial City.
Likewise, the first director of the Cathedral Museum Volunteer Program, Fabiola Herrera, expressed her gratitude to the president for his interest, follow-up, willingness and great faith.
Meanwhile, the General Coordinator of the Comprehensive Tourism and Urban Development Program of the Colonial City, Amin Abel, highlighted the high impact that this museum will have on strengthening the tourism offer, contributing to raising the competitiveness of the Dominican Republic as a leading destination in the Caribbean, and added that it will especially contribute to the preservation of the richness that the colonial city boasts as a world heritage site.
Speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Lorenzo Vargas noted that this museum will be a permanent memorial to God's love for the Dominican people and thanked the Dominican government for its support and President Abinader for his interest and enthusiasm in seeing this project completed.
The blessing of the event was given by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Francisco Ozoria.
Museum
The work carried out at the Cathedral Museum included its architectural readaptation, the curatorship and development of its museographic contents, supported by the use of advanced technology.
The rehabilitation of its infrastructure included the refurbishment of all its spaces, encompassing the creation of twelve rooms with interactive, educational, and immersive elements. It also included the restoration and adaptation of all the pieces for exhibition.
The handover ceremony for the Santo Domingo Cathedral Museum was attended by the president of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), José Ignacio Paliza; the directors of Politur, Brigadier General Minoru Matsunaga; of Monumental Heritage, Juan Mubarak; of Museums, Carlos Andujar; and the vice ministers of Destinations, Patricia Mejía; and of Cultural Heritage, Gamal Michelén.
Also present were the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See in the Dominican Republic, Piergiorgio Bertoldi; the Ambassador of Spain in Santo Domingo, Antonio Pérez-Hernández y Torra; the founder of Grupo Punta Cana, Frank Rainieri; the president of Banco BHD, Steven Puig; the coordinator of tourism development in the Colonial Zone, Amín Abel Santos, among others.
