Santo Domingo

THE CITY OF SANTO DOMINGO

Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and a by UNESCO recognized world heritage site. It is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the New World. It is certainly the most lively and diverse city in the Caribbean. It has a population of over three million inhabitants .The Province of Santo Domingo and sprawls out over 250 square kilometres

This colonial town, founded in 1498, was laid out on a grid pattern that became the model for almost all town planners in the New World. Christopher Columbus discovered the island (which he called Hispaniola) in 1492. Shortly after the discovery Santo Domingo became the site of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university on the American continent. The Port of Santo Domingo was severely damaged by Hurricane Zeon in 1930. When it was reconstructed, Rafael Trujillo named it Ciudad Trujillo. The city regained its traditional name in 1961 when the dictator was assassinated.

Santo Domingo presents a mix of old world charm and modern Latin flair. No other city in the Caribbean has a greater variety of restaurants and night life. Santo Domingo also has great shopping possibilities. Major chains from all around the world have opened branches here  Discount stores offer great prices on designer brands, the leading shops offer clearance sales several times a year and there are many designer shops for more exclusive wear.

THE PORT OF SANTO DOMINGO

The Port of Santo Domingo is nestled in a privileged geographic location at the mouth of the Ozama River, in  the City of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.Also called San Soukis, the Port of Santo Domingo, is well-positioned with direct links to road and rail networks to serve the inland Dominican Republic. In recent years, port renovations and redevelopment efforts have created a modern port serving cargo and high-end tourism.

There are two main terminals in the Port of Santo Domingo. The most recent one is the new “Sans Soucí terminal”. This is really a state-of-the-art homeport terminal. It combines the essential in design, flexibility in the spaces and illumination; respectful architectonic relation with the city of Santo Domingo. Some 3,800 passengers plus crew can be handled here. The Terminal can accommodate the largest ships of today (eagle-class or equivalent). Some of the important facilities are: a ground level for baggage handling and disembarking; a 3,200 Mt2 (34,445 Ft2) Mezzanine level which accommodates immigration, Duty Free Stores, Internet Center, information stand, bathrooms and other facilities as planned

The other terminal is called  “The Don Diego Terminal”. It is contemporary and functional, styled to take advantage of natural light and the terminal’s easy access to Santo Domingo. Don Diego terminal has two cruise reception areas, the North and South wings and meets all necessary requirements for the complete comfort of its guests.

TRANSPORT IN SANTO DOMINGO

Most tour groups will be bussed into the city in large chartered busses.

Another option is to rent a car. It is pretty straight forward driving into the city - take the Las Americas Expressway westbound until you pass over the Duarte Bridge and continue onto the 27 de Febrero overpass system.

The cheapest way to get from the airport to the city is to take a taxi or motoconcho (motorcycle taxi if you have no luggage) up to the highway about 1/2 mile. From there, you can take a public bus to Santo Domingo.

Within Santo Domingo there are excellent radio-taxi services. You can call a taxi that for RD0 (with air-conditioner) will get you to most points. These taxis will usually arrive in around five minutes. Befriend a taxi driver and he can become your tour guide, assisting you with many of your needs.

Other forms of public transport are the "carros publicos" (multi-fare taxis), the Conatra and Fenatrano minibuses, the OMSA large buses and car rentals.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN SANTO DOMINGO

Inside the centre of Colonial City
The Colonial City between Independence Park and the Ozama River is the perfect starting point to discover Santo Domingo. Calle de las Damas was the first street in the Americas. Here are numerous historic buildings including the Ozama Fortress, the oldest fortress in the Americas, the house of Nicolás de Ovando, governor of Santo Domingo in the early 16^th century. The “Museo de las Casas Reales” (Museum of the Royal Houses), the restored 16th century palace of the Spanish Court shows a very interesting view of the colonial past of Hispaniola.  Not far from there stands the wonderful “Alcázar de Colón” (Castle of Columbus) built by Diego Columbus and his wife Maria de Toledo, niece of the Spanish King Ferdinand. The “Basilica Santa Maria la Menor” is Santo Domingo’s cathedral. It was the first cathedral in the New World in 1542.

Plaza de la Cultura
A lot of the interesting museums of Santo Domingo are located in the Plaza de la Cultura. It is a large park area where most museums are close to one another : The Museum of Dominican Man, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of History and Geography, and the National Museum of Natural History.

Columbus Lighthouse
The “Faro a Colón” (Columbus Lighthouse) is an impressive structure in the shape of a cross. It was build to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492. Inside the lighthouse are the remains of Columbus in an impressive tomb and features numerous exhibits. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is rarely turned on at night.. 

The Los Tres Ojos cave and the National Aquarium
Not far from Columbus’ lighthouse are the “Los Tres Ojos” and the National Aquarium. Los Tres Ojos is an impressive  deep cave of 17meters with three lagoons filled with stalagmites and lush exotic vegetation. Also close by is  The National Aquarium.  It is a medium-sized aquarium with as a main attraction a huge fish tank with a Plexiglas tunnel passing through it.

Chinatown
The Chinatown district and the nearby Paseo Comercial Duarte were recently remodelled by the central government and the municipality of Santo Domingo. It is a nice area for shopping

Botanical Gardens & Parks
The Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens is the largest garden of its kind in the Caribbean. It is possible to drive through the park with a small visitors train. On display are exhibits of the natural flora of the island and nearby areas. There is a large collection of  palm trees, orchids and exotic plants.

Shopping
Santo Domingo is a great city for those who love to shop. There are  several large shopping centres with a selection of almost everything. The Mercado Modelo at Avenida Mella, gift shops located on Arzobispo Merino and Isabel la Catolica in the Colonial City. Other shopping venues are located in the 27 de Febrero to Gustavo Mejia Ricart environs, including Plaza Central, Plaza Lama, Plaza Naco, Americana Departamentos, Hache, Acropolis, Plaza Bolera, Cuesta, Bella Vista, Diamond large stores.