Historical Famous Sites in Dominican Republic
Recognized as a tourist destination, the Dominican Republic takes pride in its vast expansions of white sand and clear, sparkling turquoise waters, with magnificent beaches and resorts. The country also claims as the oldest city in the New World, with its picturesque cobble streets and stonework houses.
The Dominican Republic is a beautiful island steeped in culture and history which is absolutely worthwhile exploring. Discover historical famous sites in Dominican Republic with its rich historical sites, colonial architecture, museums, first hospitals, first Catholic Church, and first sugar mill, on this side of an island paradise of the world. Travelers will surely find that the country offers much more than the usual Caribbean attractions of sand, sea, and sun.
One of the historical famous sites in Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo, although it is the capital city, it does not only offer travelers the usual bustling hub, but it also embodies history as well, starting with Alcázar de Colon or Columbus’ Palace which can be found within the city. The Columbus’ Palace is a 22-room palace built in 1510 and restored in 1955, was the home of Don Diego Columbus and his family. The structure unites a Gothic-Moorish style with Spanish and Italian facets.
Just adjacent to Columbus’ Palace is the Alcazar Museum which houses religious and colonial artifacts dating back to that era. The Cathedral of Santa Maria is also one of the famous sites of Dominican Republic which was built between 1510 and 1540, although the bell tower of the cathedral was never finished. Pope Paul III stated it as the first cathedral in the New World in 1542. The Cathedral of Santa Maria encompasses late Gothic and Renaissance aspects.
Two of the historical famous sites in Dominican Republic include La Torre del Homenaje or The Tower of Homage, which is the oldest military structure in the New World built in 1503 that served as a prison until the twentieth century, and Las Ruinas del Monasterio de San Francisco or The San Francisco Monastery Ruins which is the oldest monastery in the world built in 1556.
The Iglesia del Convento Dominico, fashioned like a Latin cross, has exceptional altars, dedicated to the “Miraculous Virgin” and the “Most Holy One”. The Chapel de La Altagracia and the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro are gothic-style chapels. Santa Barbara is a renovated colonial church and fort that attributes late Gothic elements pleasantly combined with Baroque detail. All these four churches are old-world churches dating back to the colonial period and are some of the famous sites of Dominican Republic as well.
Santo Domingo boasts of ten museums with exhibit prehistoric art to semiprecious gems, from Spain and Portugal. The Dominican Republic offers each traveler a walk through its history with famous sites from famous beaches, mountains, and lush gardens.