Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World, founded in 1496 by Christopher Columbus and his brother Bartholomew Columbus. Part of the city lived in the early 1500s and was known as the Colonial Area [Zona Colonial in Spain]. The colonial region has created many firsts for the New World. The first paved streets, universities, cathedrals, castles, monasteries, hospitals and fortresses - to name a few. The colonial area has beautiful architecture and rich history, and is a must-see for visiting Santo Domingo. The colonial area is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO.
In the colonial area, as well as the beauty of historic buildings, you will find: hotels, restaurants, cafes, museums, bars, shops and more. The two most famous streets in the colonial area are Calle Las Damas [Ms. Street] and Calle Conde. Calle Las Damas Street is a street where high society women walked on their way to lunch. Calle Las Damas is an amazing street during the day, but it gets even more amazing at night because the street lights turn the walls of the building into beautiful orange tones. As you walk through every step of the first paved street in the New World, you will return to deeper times until you feel as if you were walking next to Christopher Columbus in 1500.
Hotel
There are many hotels to choose from, offering a variety of prices from economy to elegance. What are the benefits of budget hotels in this area, they are clean and tidy, and the staff is friendly - there is a lot of spoken English. Keep in mind that these are old buildings, and although they are clean, most rooms are small and have "old building" problems. However, for this price, I think they provide a great experience in a large area. There are many of these hotels, and many hotels offer different special rates at different times, so it is difficult to recommend a specific hotel. The reason I like hotels in this area is that when you walk out of the hotel, you can take a place to enjoy without having to pay a taxi. You are already the first destination in Santo Domingo.
At the high end, there are several hotels to enjoy, but I will talk about Hodelpa Nicolas De Ovando. This hotel has spacious rooms, a beautiful courtyard, evenings in the evening, a small bar, a delicious buffet breakfast, dinner, they have a wonderful menu, but the best two aspects of this hotel is its history And its architecture. Nicolas de Ovando is Christopher Columbus's travel companion and the third governor of Indiana. This hotel used to be his home, dating back to 1502. This hotel was first built in one of Calle Las Damas [the first paved street], so for me there is no better place to immerse yourself in the culture of the oldest city in the New World. But don't worry, if the hotel is over budget, you can enjoy a cocktail in the bar or on the patio.
Things to do and see
travel by walking
I highly recommend hiking on Calle Las Damas and doing it first when you arrive in the colony. Once you understand the buildings and their history, you will be able to enjoy them more. For example, if you are sitting in the Plaza de España [Spain Square] and enjoying a delicious dinner, when you see the square and see the stone building, it is no longer just a stone building, because after participating in the hiking, you will understand that this is Christopher Columbus's house ' son, Diego Columbus.
The guided tour will provide you with walking tours as you walk along Calle Las Damas. So far, every tour I have attended has been brought by a good speaking guide in English. Hiking usually lasts for two hours. I used to talk to the tour guide and ask them to click on the highlights, then try to complete the tour in 1 to 1 and a half hours. The cost of this trip is usually about $1,000 for the Dominican Peso [$20], but you can try to negotiate at a lower price. The guides did a good job and were very caring, so I think they made a $1,000 peso.
The next section will discuss some buildings worth seeing, many of which will be included in the tour.
Buildings, museums and historical attractions
Cathedral of Santa Maria / Cathedral of Santa Maria - Built in 1514, it is the first cathedral in the Americas. The cathedral is an active cathedral, serviced and has 7 beautiful chapels.
AlcázardeColón It is the house of the son of Christopher Columbus [Dia Columbus]. The house has turned into a beautiful museum with some original furniture and some reproductions of original furniture. Through this museum, you will feel the lifestyle of Columbus in the 1500s.
Plaza of Spain It is a large open-planning area with 8 restaurants on one side overlooking the square and Alcazar de Colon on the other [the house of Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus]. The square is at the end of Calle Las Damas.
Calle Las Damas Probably the oldest important street in the city. This is the first paved street in the Americas, and the street where the upper class women walked down the street after lunch at the church. This street is full of buildings from the 1500s, which are now museums, hotels, restaurants, etc. Walk through history along this street.
Calle Conde Probably the second most important street in the city. The street is closed to the car, full of shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, with a small park [Parque Colon] in the middle, and at the far end of the street, there is a separate park [Parque Independencia].
Fortaleza Ozama It is a 16th-century castle overlooking the Ozama River in the colonial area. This is the oldest American fortress in Europe.
Ruinas de San Francisco It is the remains of the monastery prepared for the Franciscan priests in 1508. This is considered an important ruin and is the work of Governor Nicholas De Ovando.
P Anteon de la Patria Originally a Jesuit church, it later became a mausoleum, collecting the remains of some of the most famous countries, folk and military heroes of the Dominican Republic.
El Parque Colon, Columbus Park It is the main gathering center of the colonial festival, and it is still the same today. Opposite Calle Conde, next to Hotel Conde and next to the Cathedral de Santa Maria, it is the ideal place to sit on a bench in the park under the trees, where you can visit museums and ruins to enjoy the beauty and culture.
Restaurants, bars, cafes and night clubs
The Colonial Zone has many restaurants, bars, cafes and night clubs. I will focus on those that are historical, those I like and those that our past customers like.
Overlooking Plaza Espana [Spain Square] and AlcázardeColón [Deigo Columbus' house], there are 8 consecutive restaurants. Each room has a menu in front of the restaurant in Spanish and English. All 8 restaurants are elegant, and one of the longest restaurants in the New World is one of them. Part Palo [wooden leg] was once owned by a pirate with one leg and is a 500-year-old that Sir Francis Drake once ate. s restaurant. Whether you are eating at Pat Palo or eating at 8 other, you won't choose one of them.
At Calle Conde, there are several restaurants to choose from. They are casual lunches, casual evening wear or high-end casual wear. Segrefrados is an Italian restaurant that is not only delicious but also suitable for people to watch. They finished their coffee in the morning and started their day, and their pizza was great. For more traditional Dominican cuisine, head to the first floor of the Conde. This restaurant has a terrace overlooking Parque Calon and the Cathedral de Santa Maria.
At the end of Calle Conde is a very famous café/restaurant called Grands, formerly Pacos. Open 24 hours a day, this restaurant is a great place to start your day with coffee and breakfast. This is not a peculiar place, but an ordinary cafe, on any given day of the week, you will see people gathered here with their coffee and Dominican-flavored food, no matter the hours, pleasant conversation.
The LuLus Tasting Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and dinner. This is a very stylish location and is upscale for leisure.
Onnos is a nightclub in the heart of the colonial area where you can hear the country's favorite music [Bachata, Merengue and Salsa].
As I mentioned before, there are more restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs to choose from, but I want to give you a list of the choices we think are most popular. You will see a lot of other things when you walk. If you see one you like, just go in and enjoy.
in conclusion
Between history, museums, great restaurants, cafes and nightlife, the colonial area should be a must-see for those visiting the Dominican Republic. This is an English friendly area and it is very safe to walk around as a visitor.
Orignal From: Guide to the colonial area, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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