The head of the City Preservation Office, Omar Lopez, explained that the
first restoration phase is focusing on the main dome, built chiefly in
wood and covered with fiber cement siding; the façade and its decoration;
and interior spaces.

“This cathedral is a monument that has survived earthquakes, hurricanes,
and pirate attacks and therefore, it has been restored on several
occasions and demands systematic maintenance works,” he noted.

Lopez, a National Architecture Award winner in 2001, noted that this
project also aims at improving the image and condition of the surroundings
of this emblematic place, so they are assessing the state of houses and
public places in the nearby area.

The work is carried out by the City Preservation Office, the Monument
Restoration Enterprise, the Technical Projects Office, the Archbishopric,
the University of Oriente of Santiago de Cuba, and the University of
Florence in Italy.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Cuba is located in the foundational core of
the city since 1522, and it was the fourth basilica built in that place
between 1810 and 1818 —the previous ones were destroyed by fire,
earthquakes or pirates’ attacks. It owes its s eclectic image to architect
Carlos Segrera, who remodeled it during the beginning of the 20th century.

On its grounds, it hosts the Cuban Museum on Religious Art, which
treasures pieces like the “Santo Ecce Homo” oil on panel painting, which
is considered the oldest painting in Cuba.