Sightseeing in Santo Domingo - what to see. Complete travel guide

The famous voyage of Christopher Columbus was marked by the arrival of his ship at the shores of the New World. It is the land of Santo Domingo that keeps the memory and centuries-old evidences of the events of colonial history. This city has become the first city of the American continent, so the oldest monuments of the newly formed continent are located here.

The architectural buildings of the old town are magnificent monuments, majestic colonial buildings, fragments of old buildings and restored historical sites. Small winding streets of Santo Domingo are the location of approximately 300 sites.

Columbus's house is considered the first home of Santo Domingo, and the first fortress built in the New World is the fortress of Osama built to protect this place from pirates. A myriad of architectural and cultural monuments are located in the town square and parks of the city. The oldest of them are the remains of Puerta del Conde wall; the residence of the former archbishop Casa del Tostado, which is now turned into the museum of the family; Atarazana - an architectural ensemble of restored buildings, in which are now located numerous souvenir shops, galleries, small hotels and restaurants. The famous Culture Square combines such institutions as Art Theater, Museum of Man, the National Library and a theater, and Gallery of Modern Art. Dam Street is the oldest street of the city, but it is kept in a good condition. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The city is famous for a large number of tropical parks, inhabited by wondrous butterflies and rare species of trees. The path of ships coming from the ocean is light by the lighthouse built in 1992. Today the lighthouse is also the location of the mausoleum, which contains the ashes of Columbus.

Natural sightseers can visit the cave named Three Eyes. It is located in Mirador del Este Park. In fact, it is a complex of three caves, interconnected with each other by passageways. These caves are famous for their crystal clear lakes and stalactites. Their depth reaches 15 meters. The water in each lake has its own unique chemical composition. The caves are equipped with convenient bridges and viewing platforms. You can even ride a boat there.

Santo Domingo has a large amber processing plant, headed by Jorge Caridad in 1996. The Museum of Amber has been opened in the city under his authority. Nowadays, the museum presents a very interesting collection of jewelry and decorative items from around the world. You can enjoy jewelry made from blue amber, which is a huge rarity. The museum forms a single complex with a store where one can buy wonderful articles from local craftsmen.

Alcázar de Colón Palace is a vivid monument of colonial times. It was built in the 16th century and is a true example of Gothic style. Originally, the palace belonged to the son of Christopher Columbus and used to be his favorite residence. Within the next century, his descendants owned the palace. In the middle of the 20th century, the building of the palace was fully reconstructed. Now it houses a historical museum and presents unique exhibits from the Middle Ages and collections of the colonial period.

There are several nice thematic museums in the city, as well. The Sugar Cane and Rum Museum is among them. Its opening was held a little while ago, in 2008. The museum occupies a beautiful building of the 16th century. For the Dominican Republic, rum remains one of the main national drinks. Its production at local plants is still carried out by old recipes. The exposition is devoted to the history of rum production. Visitors can see old barrels where the drink was kept and exciting thematic pictures. Right in the museum, is a shop and an excellent bar, where you can taste popular varieties of local rum.