Santo Domingo Sightseeing Tours - Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo, the seaside capital of the Dominican Republic, offers visitors a fascinating alternative to the typical Caribbean fare of sun, fun and beaches. As the oldest city in the New World, the colorful capital is a mélange of old and new, with buildings that are almost five centuries old standing just blocks away from high-rise hotels. The city's modern sector is impressive by any standards. Santo Domingo vibrates with a stirring vitality, and the feeling is contagious.

Though there are interesting sights throughout the city, the major historical attractions are concentrated in what is known as the Colonial Sector.

Its main thoroughfare is the Calle de las Damas ("Street of the Ladies"). Behind the name is a charming story. When Diego de Colón, the Great Admiral's son, was named Viceroy of the Indies in 1508, he arrived in Santo Domingo with a dazzling entourage of nobles and their wives. The local people, impressed by the pious grandeur of these European ladies, gave the street its current name.

The best place to begin a tour is at the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, a 16th-century military complex built to guard the entrance to the Ozama River and the city. The fortress tower, known as the Tower of Homage, is haunted by legends and filled with history.

Next to the fortress is a prime example of a grand 16th-century colonial home. Solid and imposing on the outside, the House of Bastidas is delightfully spacious and inviting inside. The palatial structure was built for Rodrigo de Bastidas, the patriarch of one of the most influential families in the New World. Today the building houses several cultural institutions, including a library and a school.

For an interesting glimpse into the past, visitors should head to the former home of the founder of Santo Domingo, Fray Nicolas de Ovando. Located down the street from the House of Bastidas, the structure is a magnificent example of colonial architecture. The house--now a small, intimate hotel called Hostal Nicolas de Ovando--overlooks the Ozama River. It is tastefully decorated with period furniture and boasts the onlyGothic-Isabelline portal in the Americas.

Nearby is the Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios ("Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies"). Originally, the chapel was part of a palatial 16th-century house built for the powerful Davila family. The house has since been annexed by the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando, but the tiny stone chapel remains intact. And directly across the Ozama River from there is the Chapel of the Rosary, the oldest church in the country, dating back to the 16th century.Nearby is an early 18th-century Jesuit church that today serves as the National Pantheon. Within lie the remains of the Dominican Republic's greatest heroes, including General Pedro Santana, the five-time president of the republic. The interesting gargoyles adorning the facade of the 16th-century building next door are unique to the Dominican Republic. Known as the House of Gargoyles, the structure was originally the University of Santiago de la Paz; years later it was used as a residence for the Jesuit order. Today, the House of Gargoyles is home to the Institute of Hispanic Culture.

The remarkable Museum of the Royal Houses is located close by. The splendidly restored 16th-century complex originally housed the official headquarters for the government of the New World. In fact, replicas of the viceroy's throne room, as well as the old colonial courtrooms, can still be seen. The museum also contains several important collections, including detailed displays of the Dominican Republic's history from pre-Columbian times to the present.

At the end of Calle de las Damas, steps lead to the Alacazar de Colón, the imposing stone palace of Christopher Columbus' heir Diego and his wife. The Alcazar, an enormous Renaissance residence with various Moorish and Gothic-Isabelline accents, holds one of the most significant collections of period furniture in the Americas.

Near the Alcazar is the old entrance to the city from the port, the Gate of San Diego. Remnants of the old city walls can still be seen throughout Santo Domingo, including two other gates: the Gate of the Count and the Gate of Mercy.

Near the intersection of Calle de las Damas and El Conde Street is the Parque Colón, a charming plaza that was once the heart of colonial Santo Domingo. The plaza is dominated by a bronze statue of the Great Discoverer.Adjacent to the park is the oldest cathedral in the New World and one of the most distinguished structures in the Colonial Sector. Construction of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo began in the early 16th century, and it was inaugurated in 1542. It is a stately structure with Gothic influences and a beautiful facade with ornamentation resembling a silver plate.

Located farther south on Padre Billini Street is the House of Tostado. A remarkable 16th-century Gothic-Isabelline window dominates the facade. Inside, there is an interesting display of domestic interiors that reflect styles throughout the history of the country.

The attractions on the modern side of Santo Domingo are not concentrated in a particular area as are the historical sights. To tour them, visitors will have to make plans to rent a car or hire a cab.

Tourists to the capital are always drawn to the city's main waterfront thoroughfare, El Malecón. High-rise hotels, restaurants, discos, shops and outdoor cafés line the popular boulevard, while just across the street are coconut palms and the blue Caribbean. At night, El Malecón is where everything happens in Santo Domingo.

The Plaza de la Cultura, set in a beautifully landscaped park, is the heart of the country's cultural life. The complex includes the Museum of the Dominican Man, the Natural History Museum, the National Library, the Museum of Modern Art and the National Theater.

Because the first European colonies in the New World were established in what is now the Dominican Republic, the country had a special interest in the commemoration of the Quincentennial, celebrated around the world throughout 1992. The apex of the celebration was the official lighting and dedication of the Columbus Memorial Lighthouse, located in the center of the Mirador del Este Park. The mammoth concrete-and-stone structure, in the shape of a crucifix, measures almost 800 feet in length; 149 powerful beams project the image of the cross onto the night sky, a dramatic apparition visible from hundreds of miles away.

Another popular attraction is the Tres Ojos de Agua ("Three Eyes of Water"), three spectacular underwater lagoons. Located along the Las Américas Highway, they constitute one of the most unique settings anywhere; several Tarzan movies were filmed there. Also worth a visit is the Acuario Nacional, a beautifully landscaped park whose highlights include giant turtles living in their natural habitat and glass-enclosed exhibits, where visitors can closely observe circling sharks. The aquarium is located in the Los Mameyes area. Nature lovers might also enjoy the Jardín Botánico and the Parque Zoológico Nacional, both located in the Arroyo Hondo neighborhood.

Side Trip from Santo Domingo

The main road to the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic is the Carretera Sanchez, a scenic highway that runs along the serpentine coastline from the capital to Barahona, yet another Dominican version of paradise.

The scenery there is striking. The mountains--replete with lush vegetation, rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls--drop down to the sea. Barahona's coast is an unbroken chain of gorgeous beaches; Bahoruco and Paraíso are among those for which the area is known.

Another of Barahona's attractions is Lago Enriquillo, a saltwater lake 144 feet below sea level. Saltier than the Caribbean Sea, Lake Enriquillo is the lowest spot in the Caribbean region. Rising from the center of the lake is the Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos ("Goat Island National Park"), a protected reserve for the endangered American crocodile. Visitors can stop in at the National Parks Department headquarters in Santo Domingo to make arrangements to visit the island. To the east of Santo Domingo is a fast-developing area known as the Costa Caribe. The once-sleepy villages of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio and Guayacanes now offer visitors first-rate hotels and restaurants. The area is quite popular with European tourists, who like its casual village atmosphere.

The beauty of the Costa Caribe beaches is especially enticing given their proximity to Santo Domingo and the Las Américas International Airport. Sailing, diving and fishing enthusiasts are lured there by the sunken galleons, undersea gardens and offshore reefs, which present exciting conditions for divers and provide habitat for game fish.