The most beautiful parks and gardens Dominican Republic

Parque Colón invites you to rest in the shade of its trees. In its center, a bronze and granite statue, sculpted by the Frenchman E. Gilbert and erected in 1887, represents Christopher Columbus in a voluntary and conquering attitude, while the cacica Anacaona writes on its pedestal. Anacaona, reputed to be the most beautiful and talented woman on the island, succeeded her brother, the cacique Bohechio. She witnessed, powerless, the genocide of her tribe committed in 1503 on the orders of the monk Nicolás de Ovando, governor of the island. This episode in Dominican history is known as the "Fury of Jaragua". The park originally represented the center of the colonial city. Today, it is overrun with souvenir vendors, drink stands, shoe shine boys and guides on the lookout for tourists. The commercial and pedestrian artery El Condé begins at Parque Colón.

On the eastern side of the square is the Borgella Palace. On the north side is the Casa del Abogado. On the south side, the old prison of the city, called the "house of the medallions" because the busts of the fathers of the fatherland, in medallions, decorate its facade, served as the seat of the legislative power from 1844. Today it houses the Cathedral Museum. On its right flank stands the residence of the archbishop. The west side includes the Vivaque building, the former town hall of Santo Domingo, a 16th century building restored in 1904-1905 by the architect Osvaldo Báez. Today it is the headquarters of the Workers' Bank.

The Botanical Garden being next to the zoo, the visit of the two parks can be done simultaneously. This garden, dedicated to Dr. Rafael Moscoso Puello, famous Dominican botanist and founder of the Botanical Institute, is the most extensive in the Caribbean. You can visit it by train, by carriage or on foot. You will find many species of tropical flora, some of which are preserved today. Don't miss the Japanese garden, the orchid garden and the bromeliad pavilion. A cafeteria is welcome after the visit.

One of Santo Domingo's lungs. The Mirador Del Este park is a favorite spot for sports enthusiasts, with its wide-open spaces and numerous tennis, basketball and baseball courts. Here, you can watch Dominicans cheerfully challenge each other to one of these ball sports. Families also flock here for picnics amid the tropical vegetation, especially at weekends. Yet another snapshot of local daily life. Unfortunately, the upkeep of the park leaves much to be desired, as does the lighting after dark.

Also known as Eugenio de Jesús Marcano Park, the Botanical Garden of Santiago de los Caballeros is a space entirely dedicated to the preservation of the variety of natural species of the region. It is a real theme park where the most emblematic botanical species of the Cibao Valley are presented in different sections that can be crossed on foot or by bicycle (a bicycle path goes all around the garden). The locals like to come here for a picnic.