David Collado inaugurates restored Alcázar de Colón Museum in Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo.- Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated the restored Alcázar de Colón Museum and officially launched a new public lighting project in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City as part of the government’s ongoing revitalization program for the historic district.

The museum restoration, carried out with an investment of more than RD$100 million, included structural conservation, interior and exterior renovations, accessibility improvements, upgraded electrical and climate-control systems, fire protection, security cameras, landscaping, and preparations for a new interactive museum exhibition.

Collado said the restoration forms part of a broader initiative led by the Ministry of Tourism and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to preserve the Colonial City, noting that about 10% of international visitors to the Dominican Republic tour the historic district, generating significant economic benefits.

The minister also launched an RD$86 million public lighting project that will modernize and expand lighting across streets, parks, plazas, and public spaces throughout the Colonial City. The project includes the installation and refurbishment of more than 2,000 colonial-style LED light fixtures, aimed at improving public safety, energy efficiency, and the visitor experience while protecting the area’s historic character.