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Colonial City
The Colonial City is the perfect starting point for visitors to discover Santo Domingo. Here, between Independence Park and the Ozama River, you will find the first city built in the New World by European settlers, including Columbus's brother, Bartholomeo, and his son, Diego Columbus.
The first street in the Americas is Calle de Las Damas, the site of numerous historic buildings including the Ozama Fortress, the oldest fortress in the Americas. There is also the house of Nicolás de Ovando, governor of Santo Domingo in the early 1500's and a ruthless warrior against the Taino Indians.
Of great historical interest is the Museo de las Casas Reales(Museum of
the Royal Houses), the restored 16th century palace of the Spanish Court,
which features a wonderful glimpse of the past. Nearby is the Alcázar de
Colón (Castle of Columbus) built by Diego Columbus and his wife Maria de
Toledo, niece of the Spanish King Ferdinand.
A few streets over in the center of the walled city, visitors will find the
Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, pronounced the first cathedral in the
New World by Pope Paul III in 1542. While touring the colonial city, visitors
can learn all about amber, the stone made even more famous by Steven
Spielberg's Jurassic Park film. The Amber Museum on Calle Arz. Meriño
features exceptional educational exhibits of this semi-precious jewel.
Columbus Lighthouse
Another site not to be missed is the Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) an
impressive structure in the shape of a cross which was constructed to mark
the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in
1492. It houses his remains in an impressive tomb and features numerous
exhibits. After exploring it by day, it is exciting to view the Lighthouse at nigh
t from the Colonial City, when the powerful lights are reflected into the sky in
the shape of a cross.The lighthouse is located in the Mirador del Este Park.
Los Tres Ojos & National Aquarium
When visiting the Columbus Lighthouse, make a stop at Los Tres Ojos and
then the National Aquarium. Los Tres Ojos is an impressive 50-foot deep
cave with three lagoons surrounded by stalagmites and lush vegetation, five
minutes from the Lighthouse. The National Aquarium, also five minutes away
is a medium-sized aquarium where the main attraction is the huge fish tank with a Plexiglas tunnel
passing through it.
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