Santo Domingo Attractions
Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic, is the oldest city of the New
World. It is a tourist destination that deserves your visit.
Santo Domingo is a place where you can mix the magic spell of the city with the beauty of the
nearby beaches. You will find perfectly located All-Inclusive Resorts
not only for cultural excursions through this world heritage zone, but also for you to enjoy
marvellous beaches. Some All-Inclusive Resorts are in the
city although most of them are located directly on the beautiful Boca Chica and Juan Dolio
beaches, with lots of entertainment options.
One of the major Santo Domingo Attractions is the Colonial
City. It is a must to visit this city as it was named a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1990. The first street in the Américas is Calle Las Damas,
where you will find historic buildings, such as Ozama Fortress, the oldest
fortress in the Américas. You will also find Colombus Lighthouse, an
extraordinary structure in the form of a cross that houses his remains in an impressive tomb
and the first Cathedral in the Américas, constructed in the
early 1500´s with design influences from the Gothic and Renaissance periods.
Among the most outstanding Santo Domingo Attractions there
are also many important museums such as the Alcázar de Colón
Museum, a palace built in the 1500’s by Christopher
Columbus son, that displays items that belonged to the family.
The Royal Houses Museum was the seat of the Supreme Court of the Governor in
the 16th century. The colonial period is highlighted in this museum with tapestries, maps
and other articles ranging from 1492 to 1821.
An excellent example of Victorian architecture, the Amber Museum houses a
unique collection of the world’s most transparent amber enclosing preserved plants,
insects and animals in prehistoric tree sap. In the Larimar Museum you will
learn about the mining and jewellery industries and the manufacturing
processes of larimar jewellery.
The Museum of the Dominican Man is considered the country’s best
museum; it has the best collection of pre-Columbian items that reveal the complexity of
indigenous sculpture in the shape of jewellery and religious pieces and sculptures. Another
exhibit explains the impact of African slavery on culture with an exhibition of carnival
costumes and a model of a voodoo altar.
Santo Domingo Attractions also
comprise outstanding places for those who love nature,
such as Los Tres Ojos and the National Aquarium. Los Tres
Ojos is an impressive 50-foot deep cave with three lagoons surrounded by stalagmites, just
five minutes from Colombus Lighthouse. The National Aquarium is also near the city centre
and its main attraction is a Plexiglas tunnel through a huge fish tank.
You can also visit the largest Botanical Garden in the Caribbean, where you
will find the native flora, with palm trees, exotic plants, and orchids. Other parks that
deserve your visit are Mirador del Norte Park and Mirador del Sur
Park, where cycling, skating and kite-flying are marvellous options.
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