Art galleries exhibition spaces foundations and cultural centers Santo Domingo

Erected in 1503 by order of Don Francisco de Garay, it is the first house built in stone in Santo Domingo. Francisco de Garay was a fellow traveller on the first voyage of Christopher Columbus and was the first notary of the island before becoming governor of Jamaica. The house owes its name to the cord of the Franciscan order, carved on the façade, an ornament frequently used in 16th century Spanish architecture. The building is now a cultural centre sponsored by the Dominican Popular Bank.

It is a long and imposing row of white buildings, all adjoining. This row of buildings was built at the beginning of the 16th century to house the customs and arsenal administration^_e this row of buildings was built at the beginning of the 16th century to house the administration of the customs and arsenal. This complex is a real architectural curiosity, and there is no similar one in America. Restored in 1972, the Atarazana now houses art galleries, bars, restaurants and shops. It is a must-see for anyone visiting Santo Domingo, and you should be no exception...

Easily identifiable thanks to its blue, white and red flag which flies on its facade, this house shelters today the French embassy. Renovated in 1917, the house hosted the National Bank of Santo Domingo. In 1932, the land registry moved in and, from 1950 to 1978, it was the General Directorate of Taxes. In 1978, it was loaned to France by the Dominican government for a period of 50 years. The Gothic influence is perceptible.