Live Fun Travel | Adventure Travel Blog – Cool Things to Do in Santo Domingo

So you are heading to the Dominican Republic and want to know some neat factors to do.  Santo Domingo is one particular of the major metropolitan metropolitan areas in the Caribbean. With a populace of all over 4 million, the town is the cultural, monetary, and economic hub of the place. Together with this, Santo Domingo also has the luxurious of staying the very first European town in the new world. The town was founded by the Spanish in 1496 by Christopher Columbus’s brother, Bartolome. The city 1st sat on the East financial institution of the Ozama river until finally it was moved to the West Bank, with the port and harbor of Santo Domingo sitting at the mouth of the river. The initially big slave revolt in the Americas started off in Santo Domingo and was a sizzling concentrate on for pirates together with noteworthy English privateer Sir Francis Drake. Right after numerous revolutions, political unrest, and even two invasions, the metropolis of Santo Domingo continues to be today as a area with a loaded society, breathtaking colonial-period architecture, and plenty to see and do. Santo Domingo was the to start with seat of Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and is the oldest frequently inhabited settlement in the Americas.

Santo Domingo is divided into two halves, separated by the Ozama River. The western facet is pretty developed economically while the jap aspect has historically lagged powering a little bit in that regard. As a vacationer, you are going to most likely be investing most of your time on the western aspect and along the “Zona Colonial”. The central space is gorgeous with palm-lined streets, aged homes, and lots of upscale procuring and dining. Discover the aged and the new and see the finest of the new world’s to start with city.

Stroll By the Colonial Zone

The “Zona Colonial” or only the Colonial Zone is just one of the oldest neighborhoods on the continent. It’s the historic centre of the aged metropolis and is fully a UNESCO Environment Heritage Web page. The Colonial Zone is the major tourist attraction in the metropolis with its cobblestone streets, colonial-period properties and dwelling, and amazing vibrant art scene. The area is at a regular bustle. Locals and tourists mingle on the streets, retailers, and open doors permitting a peek into the lives of the people whilst mystery shaded courtyards and alleyways make it feel like you’re using a glimpse into the earlier. Store for souvenirs, or simply head to a cafe and get a coffee though you sit on the patio and enjoy the planet go by. The colonial zone is significant and has a lot of factors to verify out inside of it. But if you’re quick on time and just want a style, owning a stroll by way of the metropolis center is a good way to devote an afternoon.

Parque Colón: At the coronary heart of the Colonial Zone is the Parque Colón. Street performers, vendors, locals, vacationers, and youngsters appear here to hold out, satisfy up and just love the vibes. With the statue of Columbus standing ideal in the middle, the park is a excellent put to orient on your own with the relaxation of the city. To the north is the Calle el Conde which is the city’s very first principal pedestrian avenue where by you’ll locate a great deal of cafes and dining establishments, and on the south side is the attractive Catedral Primada de América.

Catedral Primada de América: Sitting on the south aspect of the park, the Catedral Primada de América was done in 1540 and was the to start with cathedral crafted in the Americas. Maybe what tends to make the cathedral even far more beautiful is the point that the grounds are not ruins. The making is still a entirely working location of worship and appears to be like significantly like it did when it was built about 450 several years ago. Initial functions like the grand mahogany doors, silver altar, and portray of the Virgin Mary remain just as they did when it was first crafted. 

Calle El Conde: Operating from the Plaza Independencia to the Parque Colon, the Calle El Conde is a single of the hottest streets to investigate in the Colonial Zone. Just outside of the Ozama River, the road is stuffed with restored colonial structures, out of doors dining and eating places, and a extensive extend of pedestrian walking places with lots of shade from the solar. It has a distinctive European truly feel with all the warmth of the Caribbean. As you stroll nearer to Plaza Independencia, the outlets commence to get a lot more and additional upscale and modern day with more compact stores and boutiques. Shopping, eating, and nightlife, all in one street.

Find out About Just one of the Country’s Major Exports

For all those with a sweet tooth, you will be capable to step into a chocolatey world like you are at the Caribbean Willy Wonka manufacturing unit. Chocolate is large business in the Dominican Republic and the Choco Museum is there to document the background of a single of the country’s greatest exports. The Dominican Republic is the quantity 1 exporter of natural cocoa. The Choco Museum normally takes people on a tour (in English or Spanish) via the history of cocoa production and its history on the island. Alongside the way, you can sample some mouth watering products and solutions together with pieces of chocolate, chocolate drinks, and even cocoa-based makeup. Understand about the procedure of escalating, drying, and processing, and of class, acquire a several chocolatey samples to get with you when you go away. 

Check out the Oldest Fortress in the Americas

Because Santo Domingo is considered “the 1st town of the new world”, a large amount of the historic landmarks and constructions are the “oldest”. The Fortaleza Ozama is named following the river it sits on the mouth of. Situated just outside the Colonial Zone, the fortress was constructed in 1502 and was positioned to stand up to assaults from invaders and rebellions. With its 10-foot-thick walls, the fortress has withstood longer than numerous governments ruling it has. 

In addition to becoming a armed forces foundation, the fortress also housed the Viceroy of Santo Domingo, of which Christopher Columbus was once a single. He and his household lived right here and in the course of his reign, he was so corrupt that the Spanish royal governing administration noticed him unfit to govern and had him jailed in his possess fortress. Immediately after he was dismissed, Columbus in no way returned. 

The background of the fort is tumultuous and exchanged hands involving countries many moments. The fort was so effectively-created that it ongoing to be a jail properly into the 20th century. By the 1960s it closed and became a monument and countrywide landmark. 

Study a Small about the Country’s Contemporary Historical past

In 1955, nearly half of the Latin American republics have been ruled by dictators. Even though the strategy of a military dictatorship was not specifically uncommon in the location, the sheer brutality of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo’s regime was regarded as far worse than any others in the location. Pursuing a long time of political unrest in the early 20th century, Trujillo took around power in 1930 and ruled with an iron fist until eventually 1961 when he was then assassinated. Like most despotic dictators, he dominated the region at his whim. Seizing land and supplying revenue and electrical power to individuals he liked and oppressing people he did not. He even renamed Santo Domingo to “Ciudad Trujillo”. Aside from killing 50,000 of his have countrymen, he also experienced people killed exterior the nation. 

The Trujillo legacy in the region is a sensitive subject matter, but the Memorial Museum of Dominican Resistance aims to educate and serve as a reminder about the country’s previous with out glossing more than it. Replicas of torture chambers and shows of well known historic moments below his regime are recreated in ugly element. 

Love one particular of the City’s Most One of a kind Eating Establishments

Not only is Meson de la Cava one of the city’s most exceptional sites to consume, but it is also a person of the best. The Meson de la Cava cafe is as the name indicates, a restaurant found in a cave. Tucked away in a cave carved out by hundreds of thousands of decades of waves and drinking water erosion, the Meson de la Cava is remarkably regarded for its Dominican and French delicacies by the two locals and visitors alike. Prior tenants of the cave include things like Taino natives, pirates, and a pan-American authorities corporation. 

Whilst the entrance to the cafe is found on the road amount, you’ll have to descend a 40-foot staircase to get to the lobby. Acquire in the views of all the stalagmites and stalactites, as nicely as the outstanding exhibit of useful belongings from the previous occupants. 

When it will come to the food stuff here. Count on stellar company and refreshing dishes built from neighborhood components and seafood fished out of the Caribbean Sea from the identical afternoon. Spanish and French-influenced dishes mingle with Dominican substances for an astounding fusion of flavor.

Catch a Sport at Estadio Quisqueya

Baseball is massive business enterprise in the Dominican Republic and the Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo is home to two of the city’s major groups the Tigres del Licey and Leones del Escogido so no issue what there is normally some bustling motion heading on. Designed in 1955 the stadium was modeled right after the Bobby Maduro Stadium in Miami and was then reworked and renovated in 2007 to healthy much more spectators. The stadium sits about 15,000 persons and is 1 of the best places in the place to witness Dominican baseball at its very best. 

Get a Flavor of Local Fusion Cuisine

Along the Avenida Juan Pablo Duarte is exactly where you’ll uncover Santo Domingo’s Chinatown. In contrast to a lot of even larger city’s Chinatowns, the 1 listed here is a lot less geared toward holidaymakers and is a humbly performing and center-course location. Though there are plenty of Chinese personnel in the city alongside with 2nd technology Chinese-Dominican immigrants, locals have taken a large fascination in Chinese food. So considerably so that Chinese and Dominican fusion has in essence grow to be its point. 

Every Sunday near Mercado Modelo area farmers and grocers sell Chinese food items, Chinese fruits, and Chinese veggies together with the regional make. The final result of which is a interesting encounter among both of those cultures. Dominican-design fried Rooster (recognized as Pica Pollo) is served together with Chinese-fried rice, plantain slices, and other Chinese convenience meals staples. The area is more aimed to locals so brush up on your Spanish and indulge in a really niche-but-somehow-authentic culinary experience. 

Spend a day At Boca Chica or Juan Dolio

You’re paying out some time in the Caribbean, you’re likely to want to test out the nearby seashores. While Santo Domingo is found on the coast, you’ll have to head outside the town if you want a beach experience. To the east of the town is the city of Boca Chica and it is about a 30-minute generate from Santo Domingo. Though resorts and lavish summer time properties ended up popping up here as early as the 1950s, it was only till the 70s that it grew to become identified as a very hot beach vacation spot. White sandy seashores, crystalline waters, and hot Caribbean sunshine make it a ideal escape from the city.

Juan Dolio is a minor far more community-oriented but just as wonderful as Boca Chica. Positioned a little bit additional absent but even now, on the coast, Playa Juan Dolio is well known with locals and travelers and offers facilities like parking areas and a city close by if you want to decide on up some stuff or seize a gentle lunch. Juan Dolio has the privilege of remaining “less touristy” so the atmosphere feels a very little significantly less spoiled with its notable absence of inns and loads of palm trees. 

Our Remaining Word

Kati is a lot a lot more of a seaside and Caribbean individual than I, but Santo Domingo is so much more than just shorelines.  Aside from the beach locations which are excellent, historical past, chocolate and baseball rule the island with some wonderful food items.  What far more could you inquire for. When planning that future wonderful couples or loved ones vacation spot, look at the DR and head to Santo Domingo.  You will not be dissapointed.