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 The
Dominican Republic is a recognized tourist
destination, with magnificent beaches and
resorts, vast extensions of white sand and
clear, sparkling waters. It also has the claim
as the oldest city in the New World, with its
quaint cobble streets and stonework houses.
This beautiful island is steeped in history and
culture worthwhile exploring: abundant
historical sites, museums, colonial
architecture, the first hospital, first sugar
mill, first Catholic church this side of the
world. Visitors will soon discover that the
Dominican Republic offers much more than the
typical Caribbean attractions of sun, sand and
sea.
Santo Domingo, the capital city, boasts the
Alcázar de Colon (Columbus' Palace): the 22-room
palace home of Don Diego Columbus and his
family. Built in 1510 and restored in 1955, its
structure combines a Gothic-Moorish style with
Spanish and Italian Renaissance features.
The Alcazar Museum, adjacent to Columbus'
Palace, houses religious and colonial art
objects that date back to this era.
The Cathedral of Santa María was built in phases
between 1510 and 1540, although the bell tower
was never finished. Pope Paul III pronounced it
the first cathedral in the New World in 1542.
The style comprises late Gothic and Renaissance
elements.
La Torre del Homenaje (The Tower of Homage), the
oldest military construction in the New World,
built in 1503, served as a prison until the 20th
century.
Las Las Ruinas del Monasterio de San Francisco
(The San Francisco Monastery Ruins), built
around 1556, and is the oldest monastery in the
New World.
The four churches that follow are among the
quaint group of churches dating back to this
colonial period.
- Iglesia del Convento Dominico (A Church of the
Dominican Order), shaped like a Latin cross, has
unique, outstanding altars, dedicated to the
"Miraculous Virgin," and the "Most Holy One."
The latter features four apostles sculptured in
patina-coated stone.
- The gothic-style Chapel de La Altagracia and
the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo
Socorro, the latter with four Ionic columns,
joined by an architrave, dominated by a model of
the morning star that announced Christ's birth.
- Santa Barbara is a restored colonial church
and fort, featuring late Gothic elements
harmoniously combined with Baroque detail.
- Iglesia de los Padres Jesuitas y Panteon
Nacional (A Church run by the Jesuit Fathers and
National Pantheon) was built in 1743 as a Jesuit
church, but then restored and converted into the
National Pantheon in 1958. It has then become
the resting grounds for leading national heroes.
The central nave forms a cross with the lateral
chapels, and a bronze lamp, donated by the
Spanish government, hangs in the intersection.
Casa de Cordon (The Cord House), the first
Spanish-style home built in the Americas, d was
erected by conquistador Francisco de Garay.
Surrounding the building was a beautiful gate
trimmed with a cord resembling those used used
by San Franciscan monks. Today it is a cultural
center sponsored by Banco Popular.
Santo Domingo boasts 10 museums, with exhibits
ranging from semiprecious gems to prehistoric
art from Spain and Portugal.
The Numismatic and Philatelic Museum is said to
possess the most comprehensive and valuable
collection of antique coins, bills and stamps in
the Caribbean dating back to 1865.
The Museum of the Dominican Man traces the
origen of Dominican people back to the original
Taino Indians and artifacts, including the
Spanish conquistadores and African slaves.
The Columbus' Lighthouse, a towering structure
in the form of a cross, constructed to
conmemorate the 500th anniversary of the
discovery of America in 1492. It houses the
explorer's remains, museums and exhibits donated
by several countries. The edifice's 151 light
beams can be seen 40 miles away.
Other museums include the National Museum of
Natural History, Museum of the Dominican Family,
National Museum of History and Geography, Museum
of Modern Art and Museum of the Royal Dockyards.
Music
Dominicans have a great liking for dance. A
French observer, Father Labat, who arrived in
1795 when Spain ceded the island to France by
the Treaty of Basle, commented in this respect:
“Dance is in Santo Domingo, the favorite
passion, and I don’t believe that there is a
anywhere in the world a people more attracted to
dance”. |
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| Source:
http://www.dominicanrepublic.com/ |
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