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Santo Domingo

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Santo Domingo



 
 
Santo Domingo, or in full, Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are List of divided islands, Saint Martin being the other....
, and the second largest city in the Caribbean. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, estimated at 2,253,437 in 2006. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean situated in the mid-latitudes of the Western Hemisphere, bounded to the south and west by the Americas, with the North Atlantic Ocean proper to the northeast and the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest....
, at the mouth of the Ozama River
Ozama River

The Ozama River in the Dominican Republic can trace its source to the Loma Siete Cabezas in the Sierra de Yamas? close to Villa Altagracia.The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea....
. Founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas
European colonization of the Americas

The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492, although there was at least one earlier colonization effort....
, and was the first seat of Spanish colonial rule in the New World
New World

The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth, specifically the Americas and Australasia. When the term originated in the late 15th century, the Americas were new to the Europeans, who previously thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia, and Africa ....
.






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Santo Domingo, or in full, Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are List of divided islands, Saint Martin being the other....
, and the second largest city in the Caribbean. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, estimated at 2,253,437 in 2006. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean situated in the mid-latitudes of the Western Hemisphere, bounded to the south and west by the Americas, with the North Atlantic Ocean proper to the northeast and the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest....
, at the mouth of the Ozama River
Ozama River

The Ozama River in the Dominican Republic can trace its source to the Loma Siete Cabezas in the Sierra de Yamas? close to Villa Altagracia.The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea....
. Founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas
European colonization of the Americas

The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492, although there was at least one earlier colonization effort....
, and was the first seat of Spanish colonial rule in the New World
New World

The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth, specifically the Americas and Australasia. When the term originated in the late 15th century, the Americas were new to the Europeans, who previously thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia, and Africa ....
. Santo Domingo came to be known as the "gateway to the Caribbean". In 1930, the city of Santo Domingo (excluding the Colonial Zone) was extensively damaged by tropical hurricane San Zenon
1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane

The 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane, also known as Hurricane San Zenon is the fifth List of deadliest Atlantic hurricanes Atlantic hurricane on record....
. Dictator Rafael Trujillo reconstructed the city and named it Ciudad Trujillo after himself. After his assassination in 1961, Ciudad Trujillo once again became Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Santo Domingo is within the boundaries of the Distrito Nacional
Distrito Nacional

The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo, which therefore is not in any one of the Provinces of the Dominican Republic....
 (D.N.; "National District") and Santo Domingo Province surrounds it.

Please note: When this article refers to Santo Domingo it is most likely referring to the Greater Santo Domingo Area
Greater Santo Domingo Area

Greater Santo Domingo is a term commonly used referring to the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.This may be the Santo Domingo Province together with the Distrito Nacional....
 (D.N
Distrito Nacional

The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo, which therefore is not in any one of the Provinces of the Dominican Republic....
 plus Santo Domingo Province) to avoid confusion of the terms. In some cases it may state "D.N.", which strictly refers to the city proper, i.e., excluding the surrounding province of Santo Domingo.


History



Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was a Republic of Genoa navigator, colonialist and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean?funded by Queen Isabella of Spain?led to general European awareness of the America in the Western Hemisphere....
 in 1492, the Taíno Indians
Taíno

The Ta?nos were Indigenous peoples of the Americas of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is believed that the seafaring Ta?nos were relatives of the Arawakan people of South America....
 populated the island they called Quisqueya (mother of all lands) and Ayiti (land of high mountains) or what is known today as Hispaniola
Hispaniola

Hispaniola is the second-largest and most populous island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east....
, including the part now occupied by the Republic of Haiti. At the time, the island was governed by a system of Cacicazgos (chieftains) consisting of five divisions: Marién, Maguá, Maguana, Jaragua and Higüey. These cacicazgos were ruled respectively by cacique
Cacique

Cacique or Cazique from the ta?no word for the pre-Columbian tribal Tribal chief, of the Taino tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles....
s
(chiefs) Guacanagarix, Guarionex, Caonabo, Bohechío, and Cayacoa.

Christopher Columbus, founded the settlement and named it after Saint Dominic
Saint Dominic

Saint Dominic , also known as Dominic of Osma, often called Dominic de Guzm?n and Domingo de Guzm?n Garc?s was the founder of the Friars Preachers, popularly called the Dominican Order or Order of Preachers , a Catholic religious order....
. Today it is the oldest European city in the New World. The city dates to 1496, when the first Europeans settled there, although it was not officially founded until August 5, 1498. The people of Santo Domingo call Columbus "Great Admiral" in respect to his sailing abilities. Governor general Nicolás de Ovando
Nicolás de Ovando

Fray Nicol?s de Ovando y C?ceres was a Spain soldier from a noble family and a Knight of the Order of Alc?ntara. He was Governor of the Indies from 1502 until 1509....
 arrived in 1502 with a fleet of 30 ships and 2,500 men. Santo Domingo was destroyed by a hurricane shortly after his arrival and he had it rebuilt on a different site nearby (Meining 1986:9). The original layout of the city and a large portion of its defensive wall
Defensive wall

A defensive wall is a fortification used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements....
 can still be appreciated today throughout the Colonial Zone
Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo)

Ciudad Colonial is the first settlement made by Christopher Columbus and the Spanish explorers in the New World. It has has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO ...
, declared a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site that is on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 Sovereign state which are elected by their General Assembly for a four-year term....
 by UNESCO
UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945....
 in 1990. The Colonial Zone, bordered by the Río Ozama also has an impressive collection of 16th century buildings, including palatial
Palace

A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop....
 houses and majestic churches that reflect the architectural style of the late medieval period
Middle Ages

File:Karl 1 mit papst gelasius gregor1 sacramentar v karl d kahlen.jpgThe Middle Ages of European history are a period in history which lasted for roughly a millennium, commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century, marked by the division of Western Christi...
.

The city's most important colonial building
Colonial Building

Colonial Building was the seat of the Newfoundland and Labrador government and the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from January 28, 1850 to July 28, 1959 and in 1974 declared a Provincial Historic Site....
s include the Catedral Santa María La Menor (Catedral Primada de América), which is the first Catholic cathedral in America; the Alcázar de Colón
Alcázar de Colón

The Alc?zar de Col?n or?Columbus Alcazar is an impressive construction of coralline blocks that once housed some fifty rooms and a number of gardens and courtyards, although what remains today is about half the size it once was....
, once the residence of Don Diego Colón
Diego Colón

Diego Col?n Moniz, 1st Duke of Veragua, 1st Marquis of Jamaica and 2nd Admiral of the Indies was the 4th List of Viceroys of New Spain. He was the firstborn son of Christopher Columbus and wife Filipa Moniz....
, the son of Christopher Columbus who became viceroy
Viceroy

A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king....
 of the colony; the Monasterio de San Francisco
Monasterio de San Francisco

The ruins is one of most important and most beautiful of the city of Santo Domingo de Guzman, Dominican Republic. It is located in the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo and was declared as a Heritage Dominican....
, the ruins of the first monastery
Monastery

Monastery , a term derived from the Greek language word ???ast?????, neut. of ???ast????? - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of Monk, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in Cenobium or alone ....
 in America; the Museo de las Casas Reales
Museo de las Casas Reales

The Museo de las Casas Reales, is one of the important cultural monuments built during the colonial era. This monument is located in the Zona Colonial, of the Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic....
, the former Palace of the Governor General and the Palace of Royal Audiences; the Parque Colón, a historic square; the Fortaleza Ozama
Fortaleza Ozama

The Fortaleza Ozama ?or Ozama Fortress in English language? is a sixteenth-century castle which lies on the entrance to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and overlooking the Ozama River....
, the oldest fortress in America; the Pantéon Nacional, a former Jesuit edifice now hosting the remains of various renown members of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order

The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century in France....
; and the Iglesia del Convento Dominico, the first convent in America.

Throughout its first century, Santo Domingo was the launching pad for much of the exploration and conquest of the New World. The expeditions that led to Hernando Cortes' conquest of Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 and Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Vasco N??ez de Balboa was a Spanish people explorer, governor, and conquistador. He is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World....
's sighting of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
 all started from Santo Domingo.

In 1586, Francis Drake
Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral , was an England sea captain, privateer, navigation, slaver, and politics of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581....
 invaded and pillaged Hispaniola. This so weakened Spanish dominion over the island that for more than 50 years all but the capital was abandoned and left to the mercy of the pirates. In 1655, the French
New France

The Viceroyalty of New France was the area French colonization of the Americas by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River, by Jacques Cartier in 1534, to the cession of New France to Spain and Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763....
 invaded the west end of the island, and after several treaties and forced annexations, the portion of the island controlled by Santo Domingo was reduced to less than half. "In 1790, the slave revolt in Santo Domingo had overthrown French colonial rule and produced an independent, non-white government, with the entire Caribbean threatening to follow suit." (Mary Louise Pratt, Imperial Eyes, 2007, p70) In 1822, Jean-Pierre Boyer lead the massive slave revolt that became the Haitian Revolution
Haïtian Revolution

The Haitian Revolution was the only successful slave revolt in history. It established Haiti as the first republic ruled by blacks. At the time of the revolution, Haiti was known as Saint-Domingue and was a colony of France....
 and established Haiti as the first postcolonial Black republic in history. Dominicans gained their independence from Haitian rule on February 27, 1844 led by their national hero Juan Pablo Duarte
Juan Pablo Duarte

Juan Pablo Duarte y D?ez was a 19th century visionary and Liberalism thinker along with Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ram?n Mat?as Mella, is widely considered the architect of the Dominican Republic and its independence from Haitian rule in 1844....
. After various political factions struggled for control of Santo Domingo. In addition to this instability, the country had to fight continuous liberation movements, which were in their totality defeated. In 1861, the Spanish
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 returned to Santo Domingo and annexed the country for four years; this period is known as the Anexión a España. After that, Santo Domingo went through many power changes, including the 20th century Trujillo
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo

Rafael Le?nidas Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Officially, he was president only from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952, ruling for the rest of the time as an unelected military Dictator....
 dictatorship (established after the 1916–1924 occupation by U.S. Marines), which lasted from 1930 to 1961 and ended with the assassination of the dictator (during this time Santo Domingo was known officially as Ciudad Trujillo); as well as the multiple presidencies of Joaquin Balaguer
Joaquín Balaguer

Joaqu?n Antonio Balaguer Ricardo was the President of the Dominican Republic from 1960 to 1962, from 1966 to 1978, and again from 1986 to 1996....
, who governed the country for 22 years. These civil war
Civil war

A civil war is a war between organized groups to take control of a nation or region, or to change government policies. It is high-intensity conflict, often involving Regular Army, that is sustained, organized and large-scale....
s and political struggles marked the first 70 years of the country's independence.

The year 1992 marked the 500th anniversary, El Quinto Centenario, of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America. The Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón), with an approximate cost of 400 million Dominican peso
Dominican peso

The peso oro is the currency of the Dominican Republic. Its Currency symbol is "Dollar sign", with "RD$" used when distinction from other pesos is required; its ISO 4217 code is "DOP"....
s, was erected, amidst great controversy, in honor of this occasion.

There are some museum
Museum

A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment, for the purposes of education, study, and entertainment", as defined by the International Coun...
s dedicated to the history of the Dominican Republic
History of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles. Successive waves of Arawak migrants, moving northward from the Orinoco delta in South America, settled the islands of the Caribbean....
, the Museo de las Casas Reales
Museo de las Casas Reales

The Museo de las Casas Reales, is one of the important cultural monuments built during the colonial era. This monument is located in the Zona Colonial, of the Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic....
 is dedicated to the colonial period; while the soon-to-be renovated Museo de Historia y Geografía is dedicated to the Dominican history prior the Discovery
Pre-Columbian

The pre-Columbian era incorporates all archaeology of the Americas in the history of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the Americas continents....
 up to contemporary times. The history of the Independence is shown and summarized in the Museo y Casa de Duarte and the Altar de la Patria.

Geography

Santo Domingo is separated from east to west by the Ozama River
Ozama River

The Ozama River in the Dominican Republic can trace its source to the Loma Siete Cabezas in the Sierra de Yamas? close to Villa Altagracia.The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea....
 The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea. This position was of great importance to the city's economic development and the growth of trade during colonial times. The Ozama River
Ozama River

The Ozama River in the Dominican Republic can trace its source to the Loma Siete Cabezas in the Sierra de Yamas? close to Villa Altagracia.The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea....
 is where the country's busiest port is located.

Metropolitan Santo Domingo is divided into four municipal Sections mostly for administrative reasons. These sections are Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Oeste, which all together make part of the Santo Domingo province and Santo Domingo de Guzman which is within the D.N boundaries, all of which have different administrative orders. Santo Domingo to the north has the section of Villa Mella
Villa Mella, Dominican Republic

Villa Mella, or San Felipe de Villa Mella, is a municipality in Santo Domingo Norte. Villa Mella is located north of the Isabela River, about 6 miles to the north of the center of Santo Domingo, and is considered an additional neighborhood of the capital....
 (Municipal District) which makes part of Santo Domingo Norte (Municipal Section). To the east it has San Isidro (Municipal District) and to the west it borders Province of San Cristobal
San Cristóbal

San Crist?bal, the Spanish language name of Saint Christopher, is a common geographical name. It could refer to any of the following:* In Argentina:...
 and Bajos de Haina. The Ozama River and Isabella end at the Center of Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is relatively low in altitude with several high hills.

Climate

The average temperature varies little in the city, because the tropical tradewinds help mitigate the heat and humidity throughout the year. December and January are the coolest months and July and August are the warmest. Santo Domingo and the rest of the country are in the Caribbean and have a tropical climate, which makes them very vulnerable to hurricanes.



Santo Domingo is cool, yet warm. Different seasons change the warmth and coolness.

Economic development

The city is the center of economic activity in the Dominican Republic. Many national and international firms have their headquarters or regional offices in Santo Domingo. The city attracts many international firms and franchises due to its geographic location, stability and vibrant economy.

The infrastructure is adequate for most business operations, however power outages continue to be a problem in certain parts of the city. A key element that has helped the city thrive and compete globally is the telecomunications infrastructure. For many years the Dominican Republic has enjoyed a modern and state of the art telecomunications system due to its privatization and integration with the US system.

Santo Domingo contains a wide variety of incomes, ranging from the extremely poor to the highly rich. Areas of high income families are found in the central Poligon of the city, which is bordered by the Avenida John F. Kennedy to the North, Avenida 27 de Febrero to the South, Avenida Winston Churchill to the west and Avenida Maximo Gomez to the east and is characterized by its mostly residential area and its distinguished nightlife.

Santo Domingo has areas of high development like Naco, Arroyo Hondo, Piantini, Paraiso, Bella Vista, Sarasota and other neighborhoods, which mostly consist of costly buildings and luxury houses, contrasting with the outskirts of the city like Villa Mella
Villa Mella, Dominican Republic

Villa Mella, or San Felipe de Villa Mella, is a municipality in Santo Domingo Norte. Villa Mella is located north of the Isabela River, about 6 miles to the north of the center of Santo Domingo, and is considered an additional neighborhood of the capital....
, Los Alcarrizos and Herrera which are less economically developed.

Bella Vista and La Esperilla are currently the neighborhoods with the highest income growth and with tall mega-construction projects sparking the city skyline. Gazcue is one of the more historic places in the city, dating back to its early construction in the 1930s until the 60's.

Commercial centers in the city are mostly found in Avenida Winston Churchill, where large plazas like Acropolis Center and large supermarkets are found. This area is home to most of the banks in the city like Scotiabank
Scotiabank

The Bank of Nova Scotia is the second Big Five in Canada by deposits and third largest by market capitalization. The bank was founded in 1832 in City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and its primary corporate offices are located in Toronto, Ontario....
, Citibank, Banco BHD, Banco del Progreso, Banreservas, to name a few. 27 de Febrero Avenue is very commercially successful and is considered the most important crosstown avenue in the city. The oldest mall plazas in the country are Plaza Central and Plaza Naco, which served as the first commercial center in the city until the recent construction of others, which quickly became new alternatives. Bella Vista Mall and the Acropolis Center are two of the newest malls built in the city, attracting much of the high income families.

Most of the city's poor live in the barrios outside the center. Some live in extreme conditions of poverty and in slums, intensifying the city's economic contrast. Santo Domingo Norte
Santo Domingo Norte

Santo Domingo Norte is a Municipalities of the Dominican Republic of the Santo Domingo Province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : La Victoria, Dominican Republic....
 is statistically the poorest subdivision of the metropolitan area.

Government and politics

Santo Domingo is the center of the national government of the Dominican Republic. The National Palace, which is the President's office, as well as the National Congress, are located in the metropolitan area. The current mayor of the City of Santo Domingo is Roberto Esmérito Salcedo of the governing Dominican Liberation Party
Dominican Liberation Party

The Dominican Liberation Party is one of the main political party of the Dominican Republic, and has a center-right position.The party has been elected into office thrice now with Leonel Fern?ndez as List of Presidents of the Dominican Republic in the 1996, 2004 and 2008 elections, though losing in 2000....
. The City is administered by the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional
Distrito Nacional

The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo, which therefore is not in any one of the Provinces of the Dominican Republic....
 (City Hall), which is responsible for municipal functions. The "Policia Nacional" (National Police) and "Policia Turística" (Tourist Police) (POLITUR) are assigned for enforcing city safety.

Landmarks


Famous landmarks in Santo Domingo include the Calle El Conde, the Puerta de la Misericordia, the Catedral Santa María La Menor (Catedral Primada de América), and the Alcázar de Colón
Alcázar de Colón

The Alc?zar de Col?n or?Columbus Alcazar is an impressive construction of coralline blocks that once housed some fifty rooms and a number of gardens and courtyards, although what remains today is about half the size it once was....
, all of which are located within the Zona Colonial district of the city. This part was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

Outside of the colonial quarters, the area surrounding the Malecón (seawall) is a vibrant commercial and tourist center, having as a centerpiece the large obelisk located at the eastern end of the George Washington avenue.

Other places of interest are Plaza de la Cultura, which houses the city's most important cultural venues such as the Teatro Nacional
Teatro Nacional (Santo Domingo)

The Teatro Nacional is part of the Plaza de la Cultura complex, located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The theatre is the center piece of the complex and is surrounded by several museums and cultural institutions....
 and the Museo de Arte Moderno; the Palacio de Bellas Artes , a neoclassical theatre that is the permanent home of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (National Symphony Orchestra); the Parque Mirador Sur, a six square kilometers park in the southwestern part of the city; the Faro a Colón, a cross-shaped lighthouse built in honor of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was a Republic of Genoa navigator, colonialist and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean?funded by Queen Isabella of Spain?led to general European awareness of the America in the Western Hemisphere....
; and the Boulevard 27 de Febrero, a pedestrian promenade located on the busy Avenida 27 de Febrero which displays many works of art from prominent Dominican artists and sculptors.

Another attraction is the Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte a sports complex in the center of Santo Domingo. This complex was used during the 2003 Pan-American Games, but has been severely abandoned since.

Colonial district of Santo Domingo

Oldest continuously populated city in the New World. It can be traced back to as early as 1500's after Columbus arrival. Colonial City is a UNESCO
UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on 16 November 1945....
 Historic Site. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492

Museums

The City of Santo Domingo has numerous museums, most of them are within the Zona Colonial District.

  • Museum of Alcázar
  • Naval Museum of the Atarazanas
  • Museum of the Casas Reales
    Museo de las Casas Reales

    The Museo de las Casas Reales, is one of the important cultural monuments built during the colonial era. This monument is located in the Zona Colonial, of the Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic....
  • Museum of Duarte
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Museum of Dominican Man
  • World of Ambar Museum
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • National Museum of History and Geography


Parks and recreational areas

Santo Domingo has various parks, three of which are called Miradores and are located in the North, South and east sections of the city. Even though these parks are relatively big, Santo Domingo still lacks enough recreational areas.

  • Mirador Norte Park, lies in the North of the city close to Villa Mella
  • Enriquillo Park
  • Mirador Sur Park, located in the Southwest section of the city
  • Mirador Este Park, located across the Ozama River near Faro Colón
  • Independencia Park, located in Zona Colonial
  • Colón Park, located in Zona Colonial
  • Las Praderas Metropolitan Park
  • The Malecon, cityfront coastal park
  • Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso National Botanical Garden
  • Dominican National Zoo
  • Barrio Chino ( Chinatown )
  • Parque Nuñez de Caceres


Malls & plazas

  • Diamond Mall
  • Bella Vista Mall
  • Plaza Las Americas
  • Megacentro Mall
  • Plaza Central
  • Plaza Naco
  • Malecon Center Mall
  • Acropolis Center Mall
  • Blue Mall (Under Construction)
  • Galerias 360 Mall (Under Construction)
  • Diandy XX (Under Construction)


Transportation


Informal

Santo Domingo is provided with a variety of informal transportation systems. These include motoconchos (motorcycle taxis), guaguas/voladoras (public buses that are known for their generally bad conditions and the driver's reckless driving), and carros publicos/conchos (shared taxis that stop at certain intervals or wherever there are passengers on a street.).There are however several bus services like the government owned and operated OMSA which has a fleet of air conditioned buses with regular stops for about $10 Dominican.OMSA operates long routes that transverse the metro area and are very popular with poor and middle class folks. Efforts are being made to modernize the fleet and to complement the new subway system. However, due to the long hours of operation, long routes and high demand coupled with high parts costs these buses lifespam is usually less than ten years.

Highways


Santo Domingo De Guzman is the terminus for three of the five national highways
Highways and Routes in the Dominican Republic

There are various Highways and Routes in the Dominican Republic. They are listed here....
, each of this three beginning around the Zona Colonial of the city. The city is connected to the Southwest of the republic by the national highway DR-2
DR-2

DR-2 is the second numbered highway in the Dominican Republic. A common name for it is Autopista del Sur . The highway runs from Santo Domingo to Comendador and is around 255 km long....
, to the northwest of the republic by DR-1
DR-1

DR-1 makes part of the five designated National highways of the Dominican Republic. DR-1 provides a fast connection from Santo Domingo, the capital, to Santiago de los Caballeros, and the rest of the Cibao one of the most productive regions of the country after Santo Domingo....
 serving as a direct link to the city of Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros

Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Treinta Caballeros is the second largest Metropolis in the Dominican Republic located in the North-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley....
. DR-3
DR-3

DR-3 is a designated highway in the Dominican Republic and gives Santo Domingo a rapid connection to the eastern portion of the country where most of the hotels and resorts lie....
 connects Santo Domingo directly to the east of the country including the cities of San Pedro de Macoris
San Pedro de Macorís

San Pedro de Macor?s is a Municipalities of the Dominican Republic and the capital of the San Pedro de Macor?s Province in the Dominican Republic....
, La Romana
La Romana

La Romana is a Provinces of the Dominican Republic of the Dominican Republic. The capital is also named La Romana , and is the third-largest town in the country....
, and major touristic sites like Punta Cana
Punta Cana

Punta Cana is a municipal district in La Altagracia Province, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches, which face the Atlantic Ocean, and is a popular tourist destination....
 and Bavaro
Bávaro

B?varo is a village in La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The village was developed together with resort area and tourist region of Punta Cana, as a town for resort workers....
, and to the Samaná Province(northeast) via the Samana highway
Samana Highway

The Carretera de Samana is the newest addition to the Dominican Republic national highway system and until now has no highway number assigned to it....
.

Rail


The Santo Domingo Metro is a 15km underground and elevated system consisting of six proposed lines. The first line begin elevated at Villa Mella (Santo Domingo Norte
Santo Domingo Norte

Santo Domingo Norte is a Municipalities of the Dominican Republic of the Santo Domingo Province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : La Victoria, Dominican Republic....
), located north of the Isabela River and north of the city center and will terminate at Centro de los Héroes in the southern coast of Santo Domingo, near the seawall district (Malecon). Some of the stops on the first line are the Teatro Nacional
Teatro Nacional

Teatro Nacional may refer to:Argentina*Teatro Nacional CervantesBrazil*Teatro Nacional Costa Rica*Teatro Nacional Cuba*Teatro Nacional ...
 (National Theatre), the main campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo

The Universidad Aut?noma de Santo Domingo ?or Autonomous University of Santo Domingo ) is a public university in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic....
 (UASD) and Avenida Lincoln. The first line is already in service.

The second line is proposed to run in an east-west direction beneath Avenida 27 de Febrero, crossing the first line. The third line will also run in an east-west direction, but it will run beneath Avenida John F. Kennedy.

The first line is expected to be completed for February 27, 2008, but not available to the public until November 2008. Presently around 85% of the physical construction is done and the viaduct is almost completely finished.

The Charles de Gaulle station will be named after Dominican martyr Florinda Soriano Muñoz (Mamá Tingó).

Airports

  • Las Américas International Airport


Santo Domingo is served by two international airports, the main one being Las Américas International Airport
Las Américas International Airport

Las Am?ricas International Airport is an international airport located in Punta Caucedo, near Santo Domingo and Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic....
 . The airport has two terminals, the newer one just completed in 2006 added four more gates on the northern end of the facility. The airport is currently the busiest in the country, handling over 2.5 million passengers per year.The airport is located in Punta Caucedo, 15 kilometers east of the D.N on DR-3
DR-3

DR-3 is a designated highway in the Dominican Republic and gives Santo Domingo a rapid connection to the eastern portion of the country where most of the hotels and resorts lie....
(Autopista de Las Americas)

  • La Isabela International Airport


The Aeropuerto Internacional La Isabela
La Isabela International Airport

La Isabela International Airport airport opened in February 2006 to replace Herrera International Airport. The first flight to land at the airport was a Caribair flight from Port au Prince, Haiti....
 is a secondary, newly constructed airport located in the northern section of the city, within kilometres of the city center. It is not currently used as a major international airport, servicing mostly domestic and charter flights. It was built to replace the obsolete Herrera Airport, which was considered by many too dangerous due to the proximity to commercial and residential areas. La Isabela Airport is also conveniently located just on the outskirts of the city and most of the internal flights of the country can be carried out here, flights to the north of the island such as Samana can be booked here with airlines serving like caribair and aerodomca. Many pilots also cited the length of the runway as inadequate for most private jets.

Ports

  • Port of Santo Domingo: Sans Souci