Dominican Republic’s capital city of Santo Domingo is filled with places to see and things to do! đź“Łđź“Łđź“Ł Check out the videos from this newly launched travel vlog and see how to get the most out of your travels by immersing yourself in the culture!
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and is the oldest capital city in the New World and because of this, the entire colonial zone has been designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from the major landmarks that still stand here after centuries, there are some other things you should do when you are in the area and they will last with you a lifetime!
Colonial Zone – Must See and Do
This historic district is an absolute must see in Santo Domingo. The Colonial Zone is so well preserved and has such cultural and historical significance, it was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.
Fortaleza Ozama
First, we head to the oldest fortress in the Americas as construction began in 1502. It overlooks the Ozama River.
Cathedral Santa Maria la Manor
Then it’s time to check out the oldest Cathedral in the New World. Its Gothic architecture is uncommon outside of Europe. Christopher Columbus was once buried here but his remains have since been moved to Seville, Spain.
Alcazar de Colon
Next stop is the home of the first-born son of Christopher Columbus. This palace is now the most visited museum in the country. It houses one of the finest collections of late European medieval and Renaissance art in the Caribbean.
Anton de Montesinos
Along the water is an almost 50-foot-tall statue of a Dominican friar who found for the rights of the native peoples on the island of Hispaniola (which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti).
Ruins de San Francisco
Nowadays, these are just ruins, but luckily it’s been preserved since it’s the oldest monastery built in the Americas. Locals says it’s a popular site for musicians to perform and entertain.
Guarapo
Sugar cane juice vendors are found on the side of the road and offer the tastiest and healthiest drinks called guarapo for an unbelievably low price. Customers get a bonus in the form of watching the making of this local drink.
Credits
https://www.freepik.com/icons/social-media
Retrato de Antonio Montesinos
Joel Dinda: Flickr, website, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons CristoRey99, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bartolomé Bermejo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124608743 Mariordo (Mario Durán & German Valverde), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
USMC: Richard from USAderivative work: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Jodocus Hondius I, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Jahel Tamayo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Caballero 1967, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
freesound.org: Uplifting Acoustic Tune with a Bright, Positive Vibe by Nancy_Sinclair — https://freesound.org/s/751877/ — License: Attribution 4.0