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Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
Bartolome Colon,
Christopher Columbus' brother, founded this city in 1496, and it was
originally called Nueva Isabela. Then, the dictator Rafael Leonidas
Trujillo named it Ciudad Trujillo (Trujillo City).
Today, the
official name of this city is Santo
Domingo de Guzman and is a
metropolis of some 2.5 million people and growing. Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic is the fastest growing city in the Caribbean.
In
the large concentration of museums, you will see the history behind
this country. And at the Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) you will be
transported to the times of the Spanish colonization.
Come here for
sightseeing,
Come here for shopping,
Come here for great nightlife.
There is
no beach in Santo Domingo, but beach is not far away. Boca Chica, San
Andres and Juan Dolio beaches are minutes away,
19 to 20 miles east of the city.
I suggest you to plan to get through
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic airport, the Aeropuerto Internacional
Las Americas-Jose Francisco Pena Gomez (Las Americas International
Airport),
spend two days in Santo Domingo and then head to a hotel of your choice
to enjoy the beach and all, because in the city, you will not find the
best resorts in the Dominican Republic.
Santo Domingo Attractions
While in Santo Domingo, visit the twelve city blocks and rival to San
Juan, Puerto Rico, Zona
Colonial, the first European city in the
Americas. Many of its monuments have
been preserved very well. Once you are there you will feel like you
have stepped back into history.
Start at the Parque
Independencia (Independence Park); it's where many
families and friends gather on Sundays to have a fun time.
The Altar de la Patria
is located here and is a national pantheon where the rests of
our
heroes Duarte, Sanchez and Mella are buried. Because of these men, we
got our independence from the dominion of Haiti on February 27th of
1844.
 The
Puerta del
Conde
(The Count's Gate, where the March of Independence was held) is at
the entrance to the plaza.
At La Atarazana
there are art galleries, shops, regional and international
restaurants. It extends for a city block.
At Puerta de la
Misericordia (The Gate of Mercy) Matias Ramon
Mella (one of our heroes) fired his blunderbuss
of rebellion against Haiti and star the battle
for independence. This gate was named like this after the earthquake of
1842.
The Pedestrian street Calle
El Conde
is where a lot of Dominicans head to on weekdays after work or school
ad on weekends just to shop or window shop with friends. There are
stores or shops, on both sides of the street and on adjacent streets.
It is located east from Parque Independencia. At the end of Calle el
Conde, is Parque Colon
(Columbus Park).
 You
shouldn't miss the Alcazar
de Colon.
Diego Colon, Columbus' son, and his wife built this fortress and lived
in it while Diego ruled the colony in 1509. There you will see many of
the things that belonged to them like them beds, some of their cloths,
pot and pans, etc. all these things in this nearly two dozen rooms
palace.
The Alcazar de Colon is located at Calle La Atarazana
(The Atarazana Street) and opens Mon-Sat from 9am-5pm and Sun from
9am-4pm (809-682-4750)
The admission
cost is $50 Dominican pesos, about US$1.50 to 1.75.
For a panoramic view of Santo Domingo, the Fuerte de Santa Barbara
is a perfect site. Fort of Santa Barbara was built in
the 1570's.
Return
from Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic to
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