Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic

Romantic and beautiful, the enticing city of Santo Domingo stands out as an oasis even among the many tropical paradises of the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo has a long and interesting history and a warm and welcoming present. You can still stroll down the first paved street in the Americas, and visit buildings that have stood for 500 years. Then come back to the present by exploring the sun-soaked beaches of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio and basking in the warm breezes of the tropics.

Santo Domingo, the Caribbean's largest city, offers the excitement of a modern city, combined with the laid-back atmosphere of the Caribbean and a rich cultural heritage. You will uncover a beautiful, historic metropolis bursting with culture, music, fine dining, exciting night life and great shopping. Sightseeing begins in the colonial zone, but don't be surprised if you are swept up by the entertainment. This area, where many of the restaurants and hotels are in historic buildings, has become a nighttime hot spot with several sidewalk cafes, bars and discotheques. For the romantics, a walk along El Malecon is the perfect activity after dinner. Bistros and bars line the waterfront boulevard and provide excellent people watching. Can't you just feel the sultry appeal of the Caribbean taking you already!

Named a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, Santo Domingo is an enchanting city of modern sophistication, old world charisma and Latin charm. It brings the business of a modern capital to the fascinated eyes of a tourist, all set against the richness of a colonial past.

Spanish civilization in the New World began in Santo Domingo's 12-block Colonial Zone, known today as the "Cradle of the Americas." This historical district of narrow cobblestone streets is now busy with shops and restaurants. Wander this romantic setting and it's easy to imagine it as it was centuries ago.

Not only is this the oldest city in the Americas with buildings and streets dating back over 500 years, but it is also a gateway to beautiful surroundings. Nearby are the beaches towns of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, hidden waterfalls, lofty mountains, lush scenery and so many other hidden tropical treasures to explore.

A good place to begin your adventure is in the historic Zona Colonial or "Colonial City." Walk through these historic streets, and see fortresses, colonial palaces and chapels, all dating back to the early 16th century. Stroll down cobblestone Calle de las Damas, the city's oldest road, and you'll find Santo Domingo's earliest stone mansions alongside the 16-century Fortaleza Ozama (Fortress) and the Panteón Nacional, which was once a Jesuit church.

History

In essence, Santo Domingo's history is the history of the Europeanization of the Americas. It is a history of conquest, revolution, and ultimately of the triumph of the human spirit.

Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Taino Indians populated the island of Hispaniola, including the part now occupied by the Dominican Republic. At that time, a chieftain or cacique ruled the island through a complex, centralized government, a fact completely lost on the Europeans, who dismissed the natives as "savages." The Taino civilization effectively ended on October 12, 1492, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, who declared Hispaniola "the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen."

Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus, founded Santo Domingo, which is today the oldest European city founded by Europeans in the New World. In reality the city dates back to 1496, the period when the first Europeans settled there, although officially it was founded on August 5, 1498. Remnants of the original city can still be seen today throughout the Colonial Zone , which was declared a World Cultural Patrimony by UNESCO in 1994. This Colonial Zone section, bordered by the Río Ozama , has an impressive collection of 16th-century buildings, including palatial houses and majestic churches that reflect the architectural style of the late medieval period.

The city's most important colonial buildings include the Catedral Primada de América , which is the first Catholic Cathedral in the New World; the Alcázar de Colón , once the residence of Don Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus who became viceroy of the colony; the Monasterio de San Francisco , the ruins of the first monastery in the Americas; the Museo de las Casas Reales , the former Palace of the Governor General and the Palace of Royal Audiences; the Parque Colón , a historic square; the Fortaleza Ozama, the oldest fortress in the New World; the Panteón Nacional , a former Jesuit now hosting the remains of various renown Dominicans; and the Iglesia del Convento Dominico , the first convent in the Americas.

Throughout its first century, Santo Domingo was the launching pad for much of the exploration and conquest of the New World. The expeditions that led to Ponce de Leon's "discovery" of Puerto Rico, Hernan Cortes' conquest of Mexico and Balboa's sighting of the Pacific Ocean all started from Santo Domingo.

In 1568, the famous English pirate Francis Drake invaded and pillaged the Hispaniola. This so weakened Spanish dominion over the island that for more than 50 years all but the capital was abandoned and left to the mercy of the pirates. In 1655, the French invaded the west end of the island, and after several treaties and forced annexations, the portion of the island controlled by Santo Domingo was reduced to less than half. Later on, in 1822, the Haitians, commanded by Toussaint Louverture, took over the entire island, and the island's Spanish-speaking residents had to fight for their lost independence. Finally, on February 27, 1844, the Spanish part of the island regained its independence after 22 years of Haitian rule thanks to a group of patriots headed by Juan Pablo Duarte , Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Ramón Matías Mella, being the Puerta del Conde the main scenario of this relevant event. It was then when the Spanish part of the island became the country known today as the Dominican Republic.

After the independence was achieved, various political factions struggled for control of Santo Domingo. In addition to this instability, the country had to fight continuous Haitian incursions, which were in their totality defeated. In 1861, the Spanish returned to Santo Domingo and annexed the country for four years, this period is known as the ?Anexión a España?. After that, Santo Domingo went through many power changes, including the 20th-century Trujillo dictatorship (established after the 1916-1924 occupation by US Marines), which lasted from 1930 to 1961 and ended with the execution of the dictator; as well as the multiple presidencies of Joaquin Balaguer, who governed the country for 22 years. These civil wars and political struggles marked the first 70 years of the country's independence.

The year 1992 marked the 500th anniversary, El Quinto Centenario , of Christopher Columbus' opening of the Americas to European colonization. The Columbus Lighthouse (Faro de Colón), with an approximate cost of 400 million Dominican pesos, was erected, amidst great controversy, in honor of this occasion.

There are some museums dedicated to the history of the Dominican Republic, the Museo de las Casas Reales is dedicated to the colonial period; while the soon-to-be renovated Museo de Historia y Geografía is dedicated to the Dominican history prior the Discovery up to contemporary times. The history of the Independence is summarized in the Museo y Casa de Duarte and the Altar de la Patria.