National Museum Complex

The National Museum Complex (Martino: Complejo de Museos Nacionales), also known simply as the National Museums, is a large cultural and educational campus in Cárdenas, the capital of Nouvelle Alexandrie. It consists of a total of four main institutions: the Museum of Science and Technology (Martino: Museo de Ciencia y Tecnologia), the National Museum of New Alexandrian History (Martino: Museo Nacional de Historia de Nouvelle Alexandrie), the National Museum of Fine Arts (Martino: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), and the National Portrait Gallery (Martino: Galería Nacional de Retratos). Together, they form the most important part of the National Museum System. Aside from forming a vital part of the cultural and artistic heart of the nation, the complex is also at the forefront in research, preservation, and education.

History

The origins of the National Museum Complex lie in the designs of the Entertainment District, part of the Cárdenas Plan, which was a sweeping development programmed to create a new national capital for Nouvelle Alexandrie. Among these designs was the establishment of a unified museum zone that would concentrate and reflect the intellectual and artistic aspirations of the nation. Construction began in 1690 AN, with three simultaneous buildings being erected around a new public square, known as Plaza de los Museos. Its main architects were Armand Villeneuve, Isidro Montoro, and Emilia de la Vega. The buildings were constructed with neoclassical elements, such as large colonnades and ornamental façades sculptured by Henri-Claude Fernoir. The complex was officially inaugurated by King Manco Cápac I in 1694 AN, at the head of a large delegation including President Alejandro Campos; and leading cultural figures.

In 1708 AN, the National Portrait Gallery was added to create a new museum dedicated to founders and leading figures in Nouvelle Alexandrie. To relieve the administrative needs of the burgeoning collection, the Museum Administrative Building was constructed in 1722 AN, with a major research center added in 1726 AN.

Museums

Museum of Science and Technology

The Museum of Science and Technology is dedicated to the exploration and advancement of scientific knowledge in Nouvelle Alexandrie. Its permanent collections feature exhibits of Alexandrian and international inventions, interactive exhibits on physics, chemistry, and biology, and a specific wing for maritime and industrial innovation. The building was constructed in a cruciform design, dominated by acentral glass-and-steel-dome. The eastern wing is devoted to the Hall of Inventions, showcasing technology and inventions of Alexandrian and international inventors. One major exhibit showcases original an original steam engine from Wechua, built in 1402 AN. The western wing hosts the Natural Sciences Hall, with immersive exhibits on biology, chemistry, and geology, including archaeological discoveries from Santander. The northern galleries focuses on maritime and industrial innovation, highlighting shipbuilding, early railway engines, aerospace technology, and manufacturing; with the great showstopper being a model of the Javelin Sojourner, the first domestic-produced widebody airliner in Nouvelle Alexandrie.

Above the public floors are active research laboratories, dedicated to research and preservation, which support both the museum's collections and collaborative scientific studies. A small part of it, above the Hall of Inventions, is open as a visitors centre for the purpose of scientific education and international collaboration.

National Museum of New Alexandrian History

The National Museum of New Alexandrian History, often known as simply the National History Museum, is dedicated to the showcasing, study, and education of the national history of Nouvelle Alexandrie. It consists of a large neoclassical building, surrounding a monumental atrium crowned ith a stained-glass dome. A series of nine dedicated Halls of Pre-Federation History depict the collective history of Wechua Nation, Alduria, Lyrica, and Santander, as well as the other regions of Nouvelle Alexandrie. Much of the museum is dedicated to the history of the founding, with the large Hall of Federation housing treasures from the nation's founding period, including a copy of the Proclamation of Punta Santiago (the original is preserved in the Proclamation Museum on the Plaza of Heroes). The smaller Royal Hall houses artifacts and ceremonial regalia from the Kings of Nouvelle Alexandrie and the Emperors of Alexandria; including the ceremonial uniform of Manco Cápac which he wore during the Proclamation. The upper floors are dedicated to the recent history of the nation, including the construction of Cárdenas, the founding of the Cortes Federales, and the expansion into Valencia, Boriquén and New Caputia. A relatively new addition has been the remodeling of the upper floor into the Hall of Living History, a reconstruction of key moments in the nation's past using full-scale dioramas and multimedia presentations.

There is a large non-visitor area dedicated to large archival repositories and a research center, which serves both scholars and students interested in New Alexandrian history.

National Museum of Fine Arts

The Portrait of Queen Amalia by painter Enrique Ougo, on display in the Museum of Fine Arts.

The National Museum of Fine Arts serves as the premier institution for the preservation and display of Alexandrian artistic heritage. It consists of a grand rotunda with four radiating wings, each dedicated to a different period of Alexandrian art. The Classical Gallery displays pre-Federation works and sacred art, including tapestries and icons from regional traditions - such as the culturally important Golden Statue of Viracocha. The Renaissance Hall highlights the flowering of Alexandrian painting and sculpture during the nation's cultural height, featuring celebrated works like The Saint of Parap and Portrait of Queen Amalia, both by Enrique Ougo. The Modern and Contemporary Hall hosts a large collection of contemporary works, from realism to impressionist and avant-garde, as well as multimedia installations by living artists. Celebrated painters like Hector Pared and Enrique Canela are among this collection. A sculpture garden attached to the gallery allows visitors to experience monumental works in an open-air setting, with works like God of Music by renowned sculpter Adan Upiedas.

The gallery's permanent collection is supplemented by frequent international loans and temporary exhibitions, which highlight it as the national center for fine arts and a global cultural hub.

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery was created by President Felipe de Almagro to honor the individuals who shaed Nouvelle Alexandrie's cultural, political, and technologicial development. Its collection includes paintings, busts, and photographs of monarchs, statesmen, reformers, artists, and everyday figures who left a mark on the nation's history. The museum consists of a circular neoclassical building, with three tiers of halls. The ground hall is dedicated to the Leaders' Gallery, which honors monarchs, statesmen, reformers, and military commanders, including Alejandro Campos, Vicaquirao Alvarez, the principal Founders of the Nation; Matias Gustierrez, Emilio Acaran, and Francesco Patrallez, who wrote the Essays on Liberty; and the Kings of Nouvelle Alexandrie. More recent inclusions are former Presidents, like Felipe de Almagro, Paolo Antonio Aguilar, and Marissa Santini. The second floor is home to the Cultural Gallery, highlighting the nation's artists, writers, and scientists. These include writers like Carmen Mozoma, Marc Astante, and Roberto Diez; painters like Enrique Ougo, Hector Pared, Abel Marañho, and Enrique Canela; and scientists like Silvia Divata, Carlos Seiza, Andres Ahuanal, Julian Zamorano, Rául Ebajas, and Lara Rodes. A major exhibit that serves as the eyecatcher of the museum is the Everday Alexandrians Hall, where rotating exhibitions showcase photographic portraits of 'ordinary people', capturing the lived experience of the people. Special exhibitions frequently introduce new commissions of both contemporary and historic gifures, ensuring the gallery evolves continuously.

In 1735 AN, President Marissa Santini ordered the construction of the new Proclamation Hall, in which a massive oil-on-canvas portrait by Sebastián Calvillo was restored and put on display, featuring the Signing of the Proclamation of Punta Santiago. It not only features the main New Alexandrian actors present, but also international figures like Francis Joseph IV, Ernesto de la Cruz, Giakoumis, Padric Shallowwood, and Kir Azariah Vidar. This painting was commissioned by King Manco Cápac in 1695 AN, on the tenth anniversary of the Federation's founding. It was kept at the Palace of Carranza as the main piece of the eponymous Proclamation Room, but donated to the museum by King Sinchi Roca II as an inauguration gift.

Museum Administration Building

The Museum Administration Building was created in 1722 AN to centralize the offices and archives that coordinate the activities of the entire complex. Previously, these uses had been shared between each museum. The main function of the building are in exhibition planning, educational outreach, conservation programs, and public events. The buildings also contains shared facilities for all museums, especially conservation laboratories, a central library, and general storage. It is the only building not generally accessible to the public, however it has a small visitors center, focused on educational in conservation, historical analysis, and artistry.

Transport

The complex is served by the Metro/Cércanias stop Circo el Porio, which is about 300 m to its east. An alternative connection is at Metro stop Exposición 1730, about 1.8 km to its northwest. The complex surrounds the Plaza de los Museos, which itself is connected to two major thoroughfares: the north-south Avenida Tamento, and the eastbound Avenida Lyrica. It has a three-story underground parking garage beneath the Plaza and part of the National Museum of Fine Arts, with space for 900 vehicles.