Bolivia's Most Visited Museum Begins Five-Year Restoration

Next month, a significant restoration initiative will commence at the Casa Nacional de Moneda in Potosí, Bolivia, to tackle severe roof and structural problems. This museum, which attracts the most visitors in Bolivia, was constructed between 1759 and 1773 under the guidance of architect Salvador de Villa. Director Daniel Oropeza refers to it as a "jewel of 18th-century industrial architecture." The project will first focus on the roofs, with 60% in critical condition, followed by repairs to the stonework. Managed by the Cultural Foundation of the Central Bank of Bolivia, the mint replaced the original established in 1572. The roof repairs, costing $513,000 and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, will take 150 days, while the entire restoration spans five years.