NATIONAL PANTEÓN
Read moreThis 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.
ALTAR DE LA PATRIA
Read moreAt the end of Avenida del Conde, this Altar of the Homeland is located in one of the oldest squares in the capital. The remains of the three Fathers of the Homeland (Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella) rest here in a huge white marble mausoleum whose main door is marked with the national coat of arms. Inside, three impressive statues, some ten metres high, represent the national heroes. They are the work of the Italian sculptor Arrighini. A monument to visit.