Cultural sightseeing in Dominican Republic. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Every year the Dominican Republic attracts a lot of travelers wishing to admire tropical landscapes, sunbathe on one of the many beaches and learn more about the rich history and unique culture of this country. The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, the New World's oldest city, is a real treasure trove of Dominican culture. Its historical center, the colonial city of Santo Domingo (Zona Colonial), is an amazing mix of Dominican modernity and history inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The oldest buildings here date back to the 16th century, but they mostly lie in ruins. The oldest building in the whole of America, the Dominican Church and Monastery, was built in the 1530s. The church combines elements of Gothic and Baroque styles. Throughout its centuries-old history, the church was repeatedly plundered by pirates, damaged by hurricanes, but this amazing building was rebuilt again and again. Later the monastery was converted into an educational institution.

The Museum of Royal Houses' majestic building is located in the colonial center on the corner of Mercedes Street. For four decades, this historical museum has acquainted visitors with the country's colonial period, the way of life and customs of people of that time. Here, in nine interconnected rooms, you can see weapons, documents, and household items with a history dating back over 3 centuries. The museum includes a reading room, a library, a conference hall, and an exhibition hall. Once it housed the Royal Residence and the Government House. The first court of the New World appeared in the same place. It was a place of important meetings and parties attended by prominent figures of the colonial society.

The Columbus Lighthouse in the eastern part of Santo Domingo attracts an endless number of tourists. It's not just a burial place of Christopher Columbus himself built on the site of the first lighthouse but also the subject of endless disputes. So far, it is a mystery whether or not a person resting in the tomb of this monument is Columbus. The construction of the colossal building was completed by 1992, and the body of Columbus who died in 1506 completed its five-hundred-year journey here. In addition to the discoverer of America's tomb, the building has halls with symbols of countries that participated in the construction of the Lighthouse. In the dark, sometimes you can see the cross-shaped beacon light in the sky. The building itself is made in this shape, if you look at it from above. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

La Romana, the southern port city, is famous not only for the country's best golf courses but also for the village of Altos de Chavon. Walking along its cobbled paths in yards where the wind wanders, passing under stone arches and admiring a magnificent church, it's hard to believe that this place is not more than forty years old. This village built by a Hollywood set designer is an authentic copy of a 15th-century Spanish village. Now, Altos de chavón is an international cultural center, and its wide stone amphitheater can accommodate up to 5 thousand visitors.

The eastern city of Higüey is famous for the most popular Caribbean Catholic church - the Basilica of La Altagracia. The beautiful building with a unique architecture in the style of modernism can accommodate up to 3 thousand visitors. There is also a palm-lined museum where you can trace the history of the development of religion and culture in the Dominican Republic from the 18th century.

Museo Del Ámbar, or the Amber Museum, is located in the north-eastern city of San Felipe de Puerto Plata. This is a fascinating collection of ancient animals and plants caught up in amber. It should be noted that amber mining in the Dominican Republic has been flourishing for many centuries. In 1970, the Costa family began collecting amber, which was included in the collection of the Amber Museum opened in 1982. The museum presents many beautiful, rare and unique exhibits, the most famous of which is the 42 centimeter-long ancient lizard. The museum shop sells beautiful Dominican amber jewelry.