Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez headed the launch of a project to restore the Santo Domingo Cathedral, the first in the Americas, with an initial investment of RD$50 million for the first stage.
The Cardinal said that the cathedral would remain open and operating on its usual schedules during the renovations.
According to the Cardinal, the work will be divided into three stages. The first stage involves renovating the cathedral exterior, the second consists of restoring the interior, and the third the surroundings. A Spanish company, Proyectos y Rehabilitaciones Kalam, with experience of restorations at the Banco de Espana, Museo Thyssen and cathedrals in Siguenza, Cadiz and Palencia in Spain, has been entrusted with a large part of this project. It is working with a Dominican team headed by architects Eugenio Perez Montas and Esteban Prieto Vicioso.
The Cardinal said that as part of the project, work is underway on the Cathedral museum, located in an old prison building opposite the Cathedral.
He said the project would also include a tourist information center, improved parking facilities and the restoration and renovation of the three buildings that make up the seat of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo.
Architect Eugenio Perez Montas, director of the Execution Unit of the Archbishopric of Santo Domingo, and the project supervisor, said that the first stage, including the roof, facades, doorways, bell tower and front of the cathedral would be ready by the end of this year and the second stage of the interior would be ready in two years’ time.
The second stage involves working with the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial (CDTI) and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/3/11/313927/El-cardenal-encabeza-lanzamiento-de-un-proyecto-de-restauracion-de-la
www.elcaribe.com.do/2014/03/12/inicia-proceso-restauracion-catedral-primada-america
www.7dias.com.do/portada/2014/03/11/i159547_inician-trabajos-restauracion-catedral-santo-domingo.html#.Ux92ClzN5g0