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The Secretary of State for Culture, Jose Maria Lassalle, has informed the mayor of Cartagena, Pilar Barreiro, the decision to establish the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology Cartagena (ARQUA), the permanent home of the Odyssey treasure.

The decision has been taken by the scientific committee created for the purpose to clarify the future of the millions of coins (212 gold and the other silver) carrying the frigate Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes and aspiring, with Cartagena, cities both Spanish and South American institutions.

Pilar Barreiro noted that this is great news for Cartagena, which have primacy, above all, the technical and scientific issues.

For the mayor is also the culmination of work started by the City long before American courts give the reason the Spanish government over the ownership of treasure.

In regard has stated that it takes months to work with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the director of Arqua and Culture Ministry officials to develop a strategy for Cartagena is the best venue.

For Barreiro is also a giant step for the City in its consolidation as a cultural and tourist destination. Cartagena and can boast of cultural and artistic treasures like the Roman theater, but after incorporating these invaluable historical assets, will become the true City Treasury, the mayor added.

For several months the City is working to help the ARQUA and the Ministry in promoting cultural tourism and will have to be done so that the exposure is known and to attract more visitors, both nationally and internationally.

The Treasure of Mercy, known as start from now, was discovered in May 2007 by the American treasure hunter Odyssey.

It consists of more than 500,000 coins between shields and Spanish pieces of eight and other objects (17 tons of gold and silver), minted in Peru in the late eighteenth century, with the effigies of Carlos III, Carlos IV and Fernando VII.

The ship carrying, Our Lady of Mercy, and three frigates that accompanied it (Clara, Medea and The Fame) were sunk by the British in their journey from Montevideo to Cadiz on October 5, 1805.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena