Culture activists have taken a stretch of Santiago’s historic center and turned it into a gallery of European masterpieces. Sixty-one high-quality reproductions of works from the renowned Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, Spain have taken over the streets, offering the public a direct encounter with the essence of one of the world’s most important art institutions.
Dubbed “El Prado in the Streets,” the exhibition, anchored by the perimeter fence of the Centro León, extends about half a kilometer along Calle Benito Monción and culminates at Parque Duarte where the city cathedral is located.
Where once the walls told only local stories, they now exhibit centuries of universal art history. From El Bosco and Velázquez to Rubens, Goya, and Sorolla, the public display turns the urban landscape into a vibrant, free-access museum.
The exhibition will run through most of January 2026 before it moves on to be exhibited in Santo Domingo, Bani and Punta Cana.
The curation, led by specialist Sara Hermann, functions as a visual time machine, charting Western painting from the 12th Century to the early 20th Century. Visitors can trace artistic styles, eras, schools, and techniques, embarking on a journey across Spain, Italy, Flanders, France, Germany, and Holland, all without leaving Santiago.
The official inauguration took place on 4 December 2025 attended by the government officials, cultural managers, artists, and local residents.
Speakers at the opening emphasized that this project transcends mere artistic display. María Amalia León, President of the Centro León, highlighted the essential social impact of street art. “The streets cease to be only places of transit,” she stated, “to become scenarios of encounter and conversation.”
Santiago Mayor Ulises Rodríguez framed the exhibition as a testament to the city’s ongoing cultural and urban transformation. He stressed that culture is a motor for development, a revitalizer of public spaces, and a vital tool for making art accessible to everyone.
This initiative is the result of a powerful alliance between the Museo del Prado, the Fundación Amigos del Museo del Prado, the Fundación Eduardo León Jimenes, and the Centro León, supported by various public and private institutions. This joint effort is an overt commitment to cultural policy that brings art closer to the public, without barriers, schedules, or ticket sales.
Beyond the current visual tour, the coming months will feature educational mediations and cultural activities to enrich the experience. The broader “El Prado in Us” project will continue to grow, with subsequent stops planned for Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, and Baní, ensuring the cultural exchange reaches diverse populations.
In addition, a complementary El Prado in the Center will be forthcoming in 2026, showcasing the Contemporary Collection of the Fundación Amigos del Museo del Prado in various cultural centers, including the Centro León, Centro Cultural Banreservas, and the Centro Cultural de España.
To encourage the development of Dominicans in art, “The Residency” (“La residencia”) will involve Dominican artists creating new works inspired by the archives and settings of both the Museo del Prado and the Centro León, which will also be exhibited.
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Centro Leon
Diario Libre
9 December 2025