Historic Treasures & Cultural Gems: A Walk Through Santo Domingo

A historic square, Plaza España, is a popular meeting point surrounded by restaurants and outdoor terraces. It features the 16th-century Alcázar de Colón and Museo de las Casas Reales, with a statue of Nicolás de Ovando in the center.

A 16th-century chapel built by the Dávila family, originally intended as a private sanctuary for Spanish noble families, featuring Gothic-style architecture, barrel vaults, and decorative arches.

A neoclassic-renaissance style mausoleum that serves as the final resting place of the Dominican Republic's most honored citizens and national heroes. Originally a Jesuit church, it was renovated in 1956 to house the tombs of notable figures, including assassins of the country's former dictator.

A well-preserved 16th-century urban area, the Colonial City of Santo Domingo is the oldest European settlement in the Americas, showcasing a rich history of colonial architecture, fortifications, and cultural attractions.

A minor basilica, the Basílica Catedral Metropolitana Santa María de la Encarnación is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, built between 1504 and 1550 in Gothic style with ribbed vaults, solid walls, and three doors.

A historic square in the Colonial Zone, Parque Colón is named after Christopher Columbus and features a statue of him pointing north, created by French sculptor E. Gilbert. The square has undergone modifications throughout its history, previously known as Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Catedral.

A unique museum and shop featuring an extensive exhibition of amber, Larimar, and other precious materials from Hispaniola, offering high-quality jewelry and insightful information on the origin and deposits of amber.

A former town hall, Palacio Consistorial was originally constructed between 1502 and 1504 as the mayor's residence, later remodeling and losing much of its original facade, only to be restored in the early 1900s.

A historic colonial-style hotel located in the heart of Santo Domingo's Colonial City, opposite the first cathedral founded in America, featuring a restaurant and outdoor coffee shop with a pleasant atmosphere under a centenary mahogany tree.