Things to see and do Santo Domingo

Long before being transformed into a museum, these two imposing palaces were the seat of the main royal institutions. They housed the General Captaincy (the first Court of Justice in the New World with authority over all the courts of America) as well as the Royal Treasury and the Royal Audience, which was created in 1513 before being transferred to Cuba on 12 December 1799, after the signing of the Treaty of Basle that ceded the western part of the island to France. The construction of the complex was completed in 1520, and on the southern façade facing Mercedes Street was the only known coat of arms of Queen Joanna of Castile, mother of Charles V. The coat of arms is now on display in the museum. The complex was restored in 1967. The entrance is through the main façade of the building. It is decorated with the coats of arms of Emperor Charles I of Spain, those of the island of Hispaniola and that of the city of Santo Domingo, granted by royal privilege on 7 December 1508.

The museum exhibits treasures found in Dominican waters and traces the history from the beginning of the Conquest to 1821, the date of the first independence. All the Spanish period of the island is shown in the form of objects, maps, weapons... An interesting curiosity is the magnificent apothecary's cabinet, where the ceramic pots for the different medicinal herbs are displayed in a rigorous alignment. Temporary exhibitions are held here regularly. The whole place is well worth a visit.

This huge open-air cave, which is reached by a 350-step stone stairway, is filled with stalactites, stalagmites and bats. There are also three ponds (hence the name), the first, El Ojo de Azufre, filled with sulphurous water, the second, El Ojo de las Damas, with salt water, and the third, El Ojo de la Cañuela, with fresh water. The works of development of the site were carried out by order of Trujillo. A ferryman will take you to the last of the ponds by means of a makeshift ferry, for the modest sum of 25 pesos.

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.

In its centre stands the statue of Nicolás de Ovando, architect of the city and third governor after Columbus and Bobadilla. The work is by the Spanish sculptor Juan de Vaquero. The founder of Santo Domingo holds in his hands the compass he used for his work, as well as the governor's baton. From this place you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view, especially of the Colón lighthouse. At night, in the discreet charm of its lighting, the square with the Alcazar Colon and all the bars and restaurants takes on a magical dimension.

This immense grey concrete edifice is the capital's most recent and probably least attractive monument. However, its illumination and blessing by the Pope was the highlight of the 1992 celebration of the ^500th anniversary of the "discovery" of the New World. The building stands on a hill in the center of the Mirador del Este park, in the eastern part of the city, on the very spot where it was originally founded in 1496.

The project to build a monument to honor the memory of the great admiral dates back to 1852. Dominican historian Antonio del Monte y Tejeda launched the idea of erecting a colossal edifice on the site of America's first city, La Isabela. The collaboration and financial participation of all the countries of the American continent, as well as that of the European capitals, were obviously required. The initial project envisaged a statue the size of the Colossus of Rhodes, embracing the two American continents between its two arms. In November 1927, the Pan-American Union (now OAS: Organization of American States) decided to launch an international competition for the construction of the lighthouse. Nearly 450 projects were submitted by 1,926 architects of 44 nationalities. The ten best were selected in April 1929 and exhibited at the Palacio de las Artes in Madrid. On October 17, 1931, an international jury, meeting at the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro, chose the design by English architect J.-L. Gleave: a gigantic, elongated cross, placed on the ground, symbolizing evangelization and progress. At night, the lighthouse would offer a fairy-tale spectacle: two great blood-red rays forming Columbus's cross would be encircled by the white cross of progress. The cross would be reflected in the sky, as if suspended above the city.

The project was built in reinforced concrete, on the hill where the original city of Santo Domingo stood. Construction began on April 14, 1948, then was interrupted. It was not resumed until 1987. The inauguration finally took place on October 6, 1992. The monument officially cost 135 million pesos, but the Dominicans claim it cost much more.

The Faro a Colón is exactly what was planned: the imposing edifice (310 m long, 44 m wide and 33 m high) houses at its center the remains of Christopher Columbus, in the white marble mausoleum, now guarded by an incessant ballet of sailors.

A museum traces the history of the monument. Another evokes the period of the Conquest and colonization.

Phillipe has lived in the Dominican Republic for over 20 years. Knowing the island on the tip of the fingers, it proposes to make it discover it, off the beaten tracks, with its jeep jeep. You can choose your route, or follow its advice, and you will have an overview of the country as few people have the chance to discover it.

This museum opened in 1973 and presents a very complete panorama of Dominican culture, from prehistory to the present day. An important part of the exhibition rooms is devoted to the indigenous populations of the island. A magnificent collection of Taino art is presented: ceramics, urns, trigonoliths and cemis, vomiting spatulas, ceremonial seats(duho). An important section is devoted to the period of the Conquest, as well as to religious syncretism and the carnival.

Of the first hospital in America, built between 1503 and 1508 by Nicolás de Ovando, in honor of Saint Nicholas of Bari, the patron saint of priests, only ruins remain today. But what ruins! The establishment, which functioned until it was demolished for security reasons at the beginning of the last century, housed the first chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Altagracia, patroness of the Dominicans. Nearby is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (19th century).

Located at the end of the Plaza España esplanade, the austere façade of the palace overlooks the River Ozama. It was built between 1511 and 1514 on the model of a similar building in Salamanca, Spain. It was the first fortified palace built by the Spanish colonizers, and the only known residence of a member of the Columbus family. To take charge of this monumental construction, an architect, whose identity has been forgotten, came specially from Spain. Some 1,500 Amerindians were forced to build the edifice from coral rock quarried from the banks of the Ozama River, using only hammer, chisel and saw. The building's style is predominantly Gothic and Arabic, with a few Renaissance features, such as the arcades. A technical feat, the Alcazar's 55 rooms (only 22 still exist today) and 72 doors and windows were built without a single nail. During his great sacking in 1586, the English pirate Francis Drake is suspected of having stolen most of the palace's valuables. The building was subsequently abandoned over the centuries and soon fell into ruin. There is evidence that the site, once an emblem of Spanish power, was used to confine cattle in the ^18th century. It wasn't until 1870 that it was declared a national monument to preserve its ruins. The Dominican government ordered its renovation between 1955 and 1957.

Built between 1502 and 1507 by order of Nicolás de Ovando to protect the city from pirate attacks, it is the oldest military construction in the New World. It is so reassuring that in the days of the colony it was called the Fuerza. At its centre is the Torre del Homenaje, a massive medieval tower dating from 1503, more than 18 m high. From its top, the view of the river and the city is superb. The defensive system of the fortress is completed by a series of forts. During the Trujillo dictatorship, the fortress was used as a prison.

A 40-minute tour for chocolate lovers. In a fun, interactive way, you'll learn all about the chocolate-making process! You'll learn all about chocolate, from its discovery by Christopher Columbus to its use today. It all begins in a theater, where the history of cocoa is presented in French. You'll taste it in its original form, then learn how cocoa ferments and dries. You can also create your own chocolate bar or make your own chocolate soap.

Travel through 500 years of history aboard this little train. The tour lasts 45 minutes, and you'll discover the secrets of 25 monuments, from the Ozama fortress to Christopher Columbus's house and the Mercedes church. Thanks to a 7-language audio guide (including French, of course!), you'll know everything there is to know about the history of this World Heritage Site. An original and complete way to discover the colonial zone. A great experience for the whole family, or for those who can't walk very far. Warm welcome.

French-speaking welcome in this museum which is also a workshop and store! At the Amber World Museum you will be able to admire the most beautiful and largest amber and larimar stones in the country. These stones are then transformed in the museum's workshop: everything you can buy in the store was indeed made in the workshop. The guided tour lasts about 45 minutes. A very interesting museum, both in the objects on display and in the general atmosphere of the museum. Young and old alike will appreciate it. Coffee area on site.

This museum explains the origin of the indigenous blue stone also known as Dominican turquoise. For thousands of years, it has been found only around the town of Barahona, in the south-west of the country. Unique in the world for its color and chemical composition, this stone has a spectrum of colors ranging from navy blue to celestial azure. Beyond the geological interest of this rarity, the stone has become a medium for jewelry-making craftsmen. The way out is through the store, which offers the very best in stone-cutting.

This former Jesuit church, built between 1714 and 1746, underwent a series of transformations and various destinations: tobacco warehouse, seminary, and finally theater in 1860. From the theater to the pantheon, there was only one step, taken in 1955. Since then, the building has housed the remains of the heroes of Dominican history, and in particular of the War of Independence, such as the Puello brothers and Maria Trinidad Sanchez. It is not surprising to learn that the gates on the upper floor are from a Nazi prison.

The National Theatre was inaugurated in 1973 by President Joaquín Balaguer. In front of the imposing marble and mahogany building, the statues of the three great writers of the golden age of Spanish literature (Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina and Calderón de la Barca) stand guard. In the entrance hall, the great Dominican baritone Eduardo Brito and Ludwig van Beethoven greet the audience. The main auditorium can hold 1,589 people.

This large park lies on the fringe of a residential area and the university zone. The complex includes the capital's main museums: the Museum of Dominican Man, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of History and Geography, as well as the National Theatre and the Cinematheque (www.cinemateca.gob.do, screenings Tuesday to Friday at 7.30pm and weekends at 5pm and 7.30pm). As you can see, culture has pride of place here, a boon for travellers wishing to learn more about the country.

The chapel, dating from 1562, was part of the hospital of the same name - the country's first charitable hospital, and the second built in the colonial zone. It is said that it was here that the town's inhabitants planned the revolt against the Haitian occupation in 1844. Inside is the town's most beautiful altarpiece. Baroque in style, carved from mahogany, it depicts the Christ of San Andres, to whom miraculous powers are attributed. It is a precious testimony to the cultural heritage not only of the country, but also of the Caribbean.

The church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is one of the smallest in the colonial zone. The chapel was built in the eighteenth century (from 1729). Its atrium, called the Plazoleta de la Trinitaria, served as a meeting place for the Dominican patriots who put an end to the Haitian domination. In front of the church, at number 255, a marble plaque has been placed on the façade of the house where the Trinitaria, the secret society that led to the country's independence, was founded.