This afternoon, the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, visited the rehabilitation and museological requalification works of the Fort of São Filipe and Largo do Pelourinho, Funchal, accompanied by the Secretary of Equipment and Infrastructure, Pedro Fino, the Mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, and businessman Avelino Farinha.
In a statement to journalists, Miguel Albuquerque confirmed that the museum will open at the end of the summer. He then added, “the Regional Government has invested three million and six hundred thousand euros, in the rehabilitation of this entire space, which was completely degraded. The work ensures that the area is now an attractive feature in itself. For now, we are concentrating on completing the museum.”
At the time, in a question posed by JM reporter, he assured that prices have not yet been calculated but categorically stated that all charges will be subject to tax.
“Museums have to be paid for, and the maintenance of spaces requires revenue,” he said.
“There are always, not only personnel who are attached here, in collecting admission fees but also the maintenance, electricity, air conditioning, etc. All this requires that our museums are ticketed, as in every part of the world. These revenues revert to the maintenance of the spaces. It will not be the taxpayer, who pays taxes, to maintain this space. Our idea is: for some of the museum spaces to be used for outside activities so that they can become self-funding within the framework of the museum.”
The opening is scheduled for late August/early September.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
