Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Attractions
Cathedral of Santa Maria
Inside the Colonial City stands the oldest cathedral in the western hemisphere, built in 1523 and still in use. Its mix of late Gothic and Renaissance elements provide a beautiful example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, with its golden coral facade and Gothic interior. Its walls have seen a great deal of history, including the coming of Sir Francis Drake who captured Santo Domingo in 1586 and held the town for ransom. He made the cathedral his headquarters.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
Colonial City
The historic enclave of Santo Domingo, known as the Colonial City, covers only one square mile (3 sq km), but inside the walls are dozens of historical buildings and sites, including palaces, forts, museums, and churches; and parks, plazas, statues and monuments. A walking tour of these fascinating buildings takes at least three hours through cobbled streets where once walked Christopher Columbus, Fernando Cortez and Francis Drake. The main street, Calle Das Lamas, is the oldest street in the New World. Must-sees include the House of Cord, the oldest European building in the Americas, where Diego Columbus, son of Christopher, once lived; and the Alcazar Palace, now a museum, built in 1514.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
Columbus Lighthouse Monument
This mammoth structure was built on the eastern shore of the Ozama River in the early 1990s to commemorate both Santo Domingo's status as the oldest European city in the Americas and the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World. The building is 693ft (211m) long and built in the shape of a cross at a 45-degree angle. It houses what the Dominican Republic claims are the remains of Columbus himself and is fitted with intense lights which project the image of the cross into the sky at night. The monument was designed by English architect J.L. Gleave, who won an international competition for the design after 455 plans were submitted by architects from 48 different countries. The building is also the repository for numerous documents and artifacts associated with the early Spanish colonial times.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
- Address
- Av. España
- Phone Number
- (809) 591 1492
- Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5.30pm
- Admission
- RD$20 (adults), RD$5 (children under 11)
National Aquarium
About a mile east of the Columbus Lighthouse monument is sited what is claimed to be one of the better aquariums in the Caribbean. The aquarium contains a variety of marine life from angelfish to sharks, but its star resident is 'Tamaury', a manatee rescued as a baby off the coast of Barahona. The aquarium is equipped with a clear glass sea-tunnel that makes viewing the enclosed sea life an awesome experience.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
- Address
- Av. España 75, Sans Soucí
- Phone Number
- (809) 766 1709
- Email Address
- info@acuarionacional.com
- Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm
- Admission
- RD$40 (adults)
Plaza de la Cultura
The vast green square in the heart of Santo Domingo serves as the city's cultural and artistic showcase, being fronted by a cluster of four museums, as well as the National Theater. The museums are the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of History and Geography, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Dominican Man. The National Theater runs a full program of opera, ballet, music and drama productions.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
Los Tres Ojos National Park
The 'Three Eyes' park, on the east bank of the Ozama River, is a surreal experience for visitors. The park is actually a series of huge natural caves on different levels, containing fresh water lagoons. One is a sulphuric lake rumoured to be bottomless, which is contained in a volcanic crater. The caves are festooned with stalactites and stalagmites. The pre-Columbian Taino Indians used the site for religious ceremonies.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
- Address
- Av. Las Américas
- Phone Number
- (809) 472 4204
- Hours
- Daily 8am to 5pm
- Admission
- RD$50
Boca Chica
A popular escape from city life is provided by the small seaside town of Boca Chica, a 25-minute drive east of Santo Domingo on the Avenida de las Americas. The resort was developed by a wealthy industrialist around one of the best swimming beaches on the coast, and boasts crystal-clear calm waters, a yacht club and marina, golf course and some excellent seafood restaurants.
- Region/City Name
- Santo Domingo
