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Santo Domingo Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Santo Domingo
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Santo Domingo Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Santo Domingo - If any city in the world could be declared the
perfect holiday destination, then Santo Domingo would probably be a
prime candidate, with its modern sophistication, old world charm
and Latin charisma, not to mention its position on the tropical
southern Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic. The only blight
on the landscape is the crime rate: robbery, muggings and petty
theft are common so guard your belongings with care. Santo Domingo
is used to being first: it was the first European settlement in the
New World; it boasts the western hemisphere's first cathedral,
first monastery, first hospital, first university and first law
court. This rich colonial heritage, sparked off in the 15th century
by legendary Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, has been turned
into a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city. Known
as the 'Colonial City' it is now a delightful area of cobblestone
streets and 16th-century buildings interspersed with cafes, bars,
small hotels and restaurants. Visitors don't need to stray from the
Colonial City to enjoy a great time in the city, but it is
advisable not to ignore the modern part of Santo Domingo. The
superb shopping, delicious dining, dazzling casinos, seductive
parks and vibrant nightlife all beckon enticingly, from the
monumental Columbus Lighthouse right down to the depths of the
Guácara Taina nightclub with its multi-level dance
floors inside a real cave. And an opportunity to visit to the
Estadio Quisqueya to watch a game of the Dominican Republic's
adored national sport, baseball, shouldn't be passed up on by any
visitor to the city between the months of October and
February.
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Santo Domingo
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Cathedral of Santa Maria
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What is it? 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.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. Colonial City
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What is it? The historic enclave of Santo Domingo, known
as the Colonial City, covers only one square mile (three 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.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
3. Columbus Lighthouse Monument
Av. España
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What is it? The most modern memento to Santo Domingo's
status as the oldest European city in the Americas is a mammoth
structure built on the eastern shore of the Ozama River in the
early 1990s to commemorate 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 artefacts associated with the early Spanish
colonial times.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm
Phone:(809) 591 1492 |
Santo Domingo
holidays - Top Events
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