Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

In essence, Santo Domingo's history is the history of the Europeanization of the Americas. It is a history of conquest, revolution, and ultimately of the triumph of the human spirit.

The island of Hispaniola, which today is the home of both the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti, was originally home to the Taino Indians. The Taino's were ruled by a cacique (cheif) and an impressively complex central government system. When the Europeans first arrived on Hispaniola, headed by Christopher Columbus, in 1492, the Spanish overpowered the Taino government and civilization. Christopher Columbus' brother, Bartholomew Columbus, officially founded the city of Santo Domingo on August 5, 1498. However, the city actually dates back to 1496, when the first Europeans settled in the area.

During its first 100 years, Santo Domingo served as the jumping off point for many expeditions to various other parts of the New World of the Spanish conquista. For example, the expeditions, which led to the conquest of Mexico by Cortés, and the European discovery of Puerto Rico by Ponce de Leon, both originated in Santo Domingo.

The first blow to the strength of Spanish control over Hispaniola came with the invasion of the island by the notorious British pirate, Francis Drake, in 1568. And the island was again invaded in 1655, this time by the French, who took control of the western side of the island, and reduced the area that was controlled by Santo Domingo to less than fifty percent. 1822 saw the Haitians take control of the entire island, forcing a struggle for independence on the Spanish controlled portion of the island. After 22 years of fighting, a group of rebels led by Juan Pablo Duarte , Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Ramón Matías Mella, took back independence for the Spanish side of the island, and it officially became its own country, the Dominican Republic in 1844.

After the victory of gaining independence, there was a long period of time marked by power struggles within the Dominican Republic, as well as various Haitian incursions, which forced them to continue fighting to maintain their independence. Less than twenty years after gaining independence, the Spanish annexed the Dominican Republic in 1861. This annexation lasted four years, after which, the governance of the Dominican Republic continued to go through many changes in power, which included the thirty year Trujillo dictatorship and the 22 years of presidency of Joaquin Balaguer.

The 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus on Hispaniola came in 1992, when this monumental even was commemorated with the extremely controversial construction of the Columbus Lighthouse, which cost around over 300 million Dominican pesos.

Today, Santo Domingo is the largest city in the Dominican Republic, and the country's capital. With over 2 million residents, today Santo Domingo manages to own its title of oldest European city in the Americans while still having all the convenience and progress of a modern city.

Museo de las Casas Reales

Located on Calle Las Damas, the first European-built street in the continent, Museo de las Casas Reales is a reconstructed early 16th-century building, which in colonial times served as a governmental palace, housing the Chancellery of the Indies among other offices. Now it doubles as an art gallery with exhibitions of contemporary Dominican art. Also on this important street, you can find the Reloj de Sol (sundial) built in 1753 by order of General Francisco de Rubio. Next to that lies the Capilla de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, built in the early 16th Century as a private chapel for the Dávila family. Another important building, the Alcázar de Colón lies at the end of Calle Las Damas. It was constructed by Diego Colón between 1510 and 1514. For six decades it was the seat of the Spanish crown in the New World. It now houses the interesting Museo Virreinal (Viceregal Museum). Near this castle you can also find Las Atarazanas, a cluster of 16th-century buildings, which served as warehouses and now contain stores, bars and restaurants. Other dining options in the area, for when you finish your tour are Restaurante Bella Cristal and Café de las Flores.

Boca Chica

Just east of Santo Domingo and a few miles past the airport, you will find the town and beach of Boca Chica. It is crowded with locals on Sundays and holidays because of its proximity to Santo Domingo. The town has three large all-inclusive resorts and a host of small hotels, rooming houses and condos. Just behind the beach is Calle Duarte, where all the off-beach action can be found. Here you will find a string of bars, restaurants, gift shops and discos. The Hotel Hamaca has a casino and a disco open to the public. The activities in the resorts will keep you entertained and safe. But if you go out at night, try not to walk alone in the streets. It's a great scene for singles and party crowds, but it is not recommended for family vacationers. But don't miss the beauty of the Boca Chica beach itself. A few minutes farther east, you come to the tourist town and beach of Juan Dolio. There is a little nightlife, but not on the scale of Boca Chica. The beaches here are quiet and pristine. The surf is calm because a barrier reef about a hundred yards off shore keeps the waves down. Most of the area between the reef and the beach is very shallow, making it ideal for walking out to the reef, and for snorkeling and diving. The Coral Costa Caribe and the Decameron casinos are open to the public. This is a great place for a more relaxed vacation experience. Drive a little farther east to the city of La Romana. The city itself has few attractions other than the beach. However, the largest sugar mill in the world fills the oceanfront area. Just outside of La Romana, you have the famous Casa de Campo resort and the Altos de Chavón artist's village. Casa de Campo has fine golf courses, and many rate the Teeth of the Dog course as the best in the Caribbean. If you get hungry after all this beach-going and resort hopping, all these hotels offer world-class dining options, as well as more casual options.

Monasterio de San Francisco

The city's most important ruins include the Monasterio de San Francisco, the first monastery in the Americas, constructed in the first decade of the 16th century. It was sacked by Francis Drake and finally destroyed by two earthquakes in 1673 and 1751. Nearby, the Iglesia del Convento Dominico has served as the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, but today has been returned to the Dominican Order. Also in the area and worth a visit are the Iglesia de Santa Bárbara, a gothic style church that dates back to 1537, and houses the baptismal font of the Father of the Dominican Republic, Juan Duarte. After all these religious sights, maybe you're in the mood for something a little more lighthearted like the Acuario Nacional de la República Dominicana (National Aquarium). With 250 different marine species, the aquarium is a great spot for a little lighthearted fun and education for the whole family. After visiting all these museums and churches, there are a good number of restaurants for you to refuel. The Montecristo Café is an English style pub serving a variety of both hot and cold snacks, as well as drinks and various theme nights throughout the week. Rossini serves mouth watering Italian dishes in practically no time at all, a good choice if you're in a hurry to get back to the sightseeing.

Guided Tours: Colonial Tour and Travel (+809 688 5285 / http://www.colonialtours.com.do/Englishsanto.htm)

More information about guided tours of Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic can be found at the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism:

Avenida Mexico 30 de Marzo Santo Domingo http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/