With more than 500 years of history, the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo is the perfect destination for a cultural trip.
The capital of the Dominican Republic, as we know it today, was founded by Nicolás de Ovando in 1502. The conquistadors had not yet explored the entire island of Hispaniola when Santo Domingo, the jewel of the Crown was already showing its aligned streets and orderly urbanism. This was a major development for the era that heralded a Renaissance taste and showed the world that a new society was being forged on the other side of the Atlantic. A harsh yet exciting story that historic Santa Domingo continues chronicling today, making it more popular than ever with tourists.
Recommendations for an unforgettable visit
Exploring the oldest city in America and learning about the years after Columbus’ arrival make for an exciting historical trip. Visiting the old town known as the Colonial City is an amazing cultural experience, but it’s also extremely entertaining, especially taking note of all the things you can’t afford to miss in Santo Domingo:
• Visit the Basilica Cathedral of Santa María Menor. The cathedral is built on the same site where the first conquerors had erected a modest wooden church with a thatched roof. The oldest cathedral in the Americas was dedicated to St. Mary of the Incarnation in 1541 after almost two decades under construction. The cathedral combines several architectural styles, with the simple frontal facade being one of the Colonial City’s most recognised landmarks. There are many stories to discover concerning the cathedral, which once housed the remains of Christopher Columbus, before being moved to their final resting place in Faro a Colon and was used by Francis Drake as his headquarters during the Battle of Santo Domingo.
• Admire the mouth of the Ozama River from Alcázar de Colón. Ferdinand II granted Christopher Columbus’ son, Diego, this plot of land, to build the family house in Hispaniola. This fortified palace looking out over the mouth of the Ozama River, is known as Alcázar de Colón and is today the most visited museum in Santo Domingo. Visiting its halls, bedrooms and offices offers you the chance to imagine what the life of the Viceroy of the New World was like.
• Immerse yourself in a 4D pirate story. Whether you’re travelling with kids or not, it’s well worth setting aside 30 minutes to check out the Colonial Gate 4D Cinema. This cinematic experience is a great way to immerse yourself in the Colonial City’s past and see key characters like Christopher Columbus and the dreaded pirate Francis Drake.
• Go shopping and wander around. The Colonial City is a scene of living history to be enjoyed strolling around the city and discovering colonial buildings converted into museums, shops, boutique hotels, restaurants, cafes and terraces. And of course, there’s also plenty of small shops and galleries where you can buy beautiful arts and crafts.
• Step into the history of navigation. The Royal Atarazanas Museum is one of the most interesting museum projects in the Colonial City. It’s equipped with different animation and interactive systems that allow visitors to fully understand the value of the crews that went to sea, facing all kinds of plights, from storms in the ocean to pirate attacks, in the hope of finding fortune in the New World, This fantastic museum is undoubtedly one of the big cultural attractions in Santo Domingo.
• Learn everything about cocoa. Cocoa is one of the typical Dominican products that deserves your attention. A visit to the Kah Kow workshop & Kah Kow Experience will provide you with all the secrets about cocoa culture and the chocolate-making process. A delightful tour, where you can sample chocolate to your heart’s content and take some back home as a souvenir.
• Dance to the rhythm of Bonye. The San Francisco Monastery in the Colonial City was the first monastery in the New World. Francis Drake, the military battles, the pillaging of the stones, and to top it all of, a hurricane, destroyed the monastery to such an extent that today it’s known as the Ruins of San Francisco. The monastery is now brought back to life every Sunday evening with the hugely popular Bonye Nights when people gather to dance under the stars to the sound of son and merengue.
• Surprise yourself with a culinary tradition faithful to its roots. No visit to the Colonial City of Santo Domingo would be complete without setting some time aside to savour some Dominican dishes. The city was recently named Gastronomic Culture Capital of the Caribbean by the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy for the second year in a row. Santo Domingo has plenty of fantastic restaurants, such as the renowned Mesón de Bari, the emblematic Nicolás de Ovando or the award-winning Pate Paló in Plaza España, where you can try some Dominican specialities.
