Santiago Sightseeing Tours - Dominican Republic

Santiago de los Caballeros is the Dominican Republic's second-largest city and its major industrial center. The traditionally progressive city is relatively new to the country's developing tourist scene, yet it might just be the Dominican Republic's best-kept secret. The wonders of Santiago and its surroundings are best appreciated by driving there from Santo Domingo. The two-lane Carretera Duarte is the capital's gateway to the north, traversing some of the most pleasing landscapes in the country, including El Cibao Valley, La Vega Real and Jarabacoa.

The Carretera Duarte extends northwest from Santo Domingo to the port of Monte Cristi. Santiago, a thriving city of a quarter of a million people, is in the northern half of the country between the mountains and the sea. Traveling to Santiago means crossing the country's legendary El Cibao Valley. The region gets its name from the Taíno word meaning heights or mountains, an appropriate name for an area containing several major mountain ranges. The Pico Duarte, at 10,417 feet, is the highest peak in the Caribbean Basin.

The Cibao Valley is also the source of the Dominican Republic's principal rivers, as well as the only ecosystem in the Caribbean with alpine characteristics. The refreshing and cool forests of the Valle Nuevo in the Constanza Valley belie the heat of the tropics. Nearby rustic Jarabacoa offers a similar experience.

Another wonderful stop on the journey to Santiago is La Vega Real. The natural beauty of the area so impressed Columbus that years later he would ask to be buried here.

After La Vega, the Carretera Duarte leads to Santiago, the first city to be so named in the Americas. Dominating the skyline is the impressive Monument of the Restoration of the Republic, a white marble structure that rises some 220 feet. The monument houses an exceptional collection of murals by Vela Zanetti and offers a grand view of the sprawling city below.

What the city may lack in size and sophistication, it makes up for in provincial charm. Narrow streets filled with cars, sidewalks spilling over with colorful merchandise displayed on tables and racks, street vendors selling candied fruits, an occasional horse-drawn cart--these elements make Santiago what it is.

Architecturally, the city is a jewel. Almost every street offers at least one or two colonial-style buildings. They are easily recognized by their large windows with wood or wrought-iron bars, as well as their narrow-tiled porticos. Many of the city's older homes reflect a definite Victorian influence in their gingerbread style. Photographers will have a field day capturing not only the variety of styles but the fanciful colors in which these buildings are painted.

The best way to get around Santiago is on foot. However, a ride through the city in a horse-drawn carriage affords the luxury of seeing the sights in a comfortable, relaxed manner.The Catedral de Santiago Apostol is a good beginning point. The imposing 19th-century structure blends Gothic and neoclassical elements and contains a magnificent altar of carved mahogany. The building dominates a small plaza, Parque Duarte, where locals gather for casual conversation.

Also of interest is the Tomas Morel Museum of Folkloric Art. It houses a fine collection of popular arts and crafts by Dominican artists as well as a splendid selection of Santiago's famous carnival masks.

The Museum of the City of Santiago is located in a striking 19th-century palace. On display is an interesting compilation of historical documents, artifacts and exhibits illustrating the city's fascinating history.

The Tobacco Museum provides insight into the history of the tobacco industry in Santiago. Tobacco has been cultivated there since pre-Columbian times. In fact, it was there that the Spaniards discovered the subtle pleasures of a good cigar. The rum distilleries also attract their share of the tourist trade. All the major rum manufacturers based in Santiago offer tours of their plants. The visits are not only enlightening but also uplifting, since the highlight of these tours is the sampling of different kinds of rum. Needless to say, they are very popular tours.