Image: Puroticorico

The Ciudad Colonial – or Colonial Zone – was built by the Spanish crown, which subsequently used Santo Domingo as a departure point to conquer neighboring territories. The center of the Colonial Zone is the Royal Houses, which has been converted into a museum of colonial era relics and history. This monument, built in the sixteenth century, was originally the administrative centre for the Spanish crown to rule over their colonies. The first floor was the Royal Court, that held important meetings and royal functions, and the second floor was the office of the Captain General.

In 1973, the Dominican President Joaquin Balaguer converted the Royal Houses into the museum it is today. It highlights the colonial history of the city as well as housing some well-preserved colonial era-relics. The museum is located on Calle las Damas, the city’s oldest Spanish road.

Further along is the Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor, which was built in 1540, making it the oldest church in the New World. Its architecture highlights the trends of its time in Europe – the church has a mixture of Gothic and Baroque styles with vaulted ceilings inside.

Image: Puroticorico

Alcazar de Colon was the residence of Diego Columbus, son of Bartolome, in Santo Domingo. Built in 1512 after Diego’s appointment as the Viceroy of La Espanola, this is the oldest Viceregal house in the Americas. It held an important position during the colonial period as most of the Spanish conquests and explorations were planned from this very residence. Today the house is a museum which holds late medieval and Renaissance art from Europe, as well as important tapestries from the 15^th to 17^th centuries. These works of art were acquired in the 1950’s, after the Dominican government restored the residence.

Image: Puroticorico

Across from Alcazar de Colon is the Naval Museum of the Ataranazas, which is housed in what was originally a depot in the sixteenth century. It documents the history of various shipwrecks along the coast of the Dominican Republic since colonial times, and the fruits of the recovery efforts. Cannons, coins, swords and other trinkets are among the treasures found in these colonial-era wrecks.

Santo Domingo’s colonial history is carefully maintained for tourist and local consumption alike. While European influence is abundant in the area one can also see local culture mingling with colonial history in the Ciudad Colonial.

Pat’e Palo, located in front of Alcazar de Colon, is a European brasserie built in a Spanish colonial structure that dates back to the sixteenth century. The restaurant, whose name roughly translates to “Peg Leg” in English, is named based on the legend of a pirate of the same name. While it offers European fare, owner Louis Brocker is constantly looking to incorporate global influences in his restaurant. Although it claims to be the “oldest tavern of the Americas,” the restaurant was actually built in 1998, not 1505 as it says on the website. However, it has since become a mainstay for high-end, good quality cuisine in Santo Domingo.

Image: Jabbusch

In Pat’e Palo, there are three areas where visitors can enjoy their meals and a glass (or two) of wine. The terrace, probably the most popular during peak tourist season, is the outdoor seating area. From here, one can see the Alcazar de Colon most prominently as well as other monuments of the Colonial Zone. The tavern, or the interior, has a cosy, romantic feel with stonewalls, plush searing and low lighting during the evenings.  Nearby is the bar and lounge area, where people come for after-dinner drinks and cocktails. For larger reservations, the Captain’s Lounge offers a spacious private dining area, with an “imperial” table with seating for up to 35 people.

Image: John Pastor

While the Hard Rock Café may not sound like the most authentic cultural experience for visitors to Santo Domingo, it is actually a favourite among Dominicans. Its location on La Ataranaza Street, across from Alcazar de Colon, allows for spectacular views. It is housed in a colonial structure built by the French in 1887, and takes up two spacious floors. Hard Rock Café offers special events on certain nights, so check its website before heading over. Otherwise, its dinner is the usual American fare, including a New York Strip Steak and a variation of Mac and Cheese.

Larimar, or “Stefilia’s Stone” is a gem found only in the Dominican Republic. While it looks similar to sapphire, it has a more green-whitish hue and can range from deep blue to almost white.

Image: Larimar Museum

The stone itself is a pectolite, which is an acid silicate of calcium and sodium. While there are other precious materials made of pectolites around the world in India, the US and England, none have the bluish tinge of larimar. This only appears in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic, Barahona.

While locals knew and used this stone to make jewellery and other crafts, it was not known to the outside world until 1974, when it was made famous by explorer Miguel Mendez. Larimar was named after his daughter and the Spanish word for sea, mar.

The Larimar Museum is located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. It was founded in 1996 as an educational unit of the Ambar Nacional. It shows the natural geological processes involved in the creation of the stone, and the subsequent human effort to mine it in Barahona. The main floor has a selection of fine larimar jewellery, and the second floor houses the museum. The shop offers a custom design service, so if you cannot find the type of jewellery you are looking for, they will create one based on your suggestions or own design. Purchasing larimar at the museum may be an expensive affair, but its authenticity is guaranteed, unlike the larimar sold by street vendors around the capital.

The Dominican Republic’s other precious stone is amber. The Museo de Ambar is located in Parque Central. Similar to the Larimar Museum, it features amber jewellery as well as information about the historic and scientific processes involved in its discovery and mining.

Image: Mila Zinkova

While amber is found in many areas of the world, no location has the variety of colours that the Dominican Republic does. (Thus, much of the amber sold commercially worldwide is actually sourced in the Dominican Republic.) Amber is mined in the northeast and southeast of the country in Cordilla Septentrional and Puerto Plata.

Further down from the Museo de Ambar is the Amber World Museum. This is the less commercial, more informational version of the Amber Nacional and contains specimens fossilized in ancient amber. There is also a small workshop where you can see craftsmen putting the final touches on the beautiful glinting stones.

Image: Bunkerglosiempre

The on-site Health and Fitness Center offer a gym that is open 24 hours for the gym buffs, a spa with top of the line facial treatments, a relaxation area and a sauna. Next to all of this is a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, which have been recently renovated to the highest standards. There is yet another spa upstairs, for those looking for extra-special pampering, that offers therapeutic massages and other treatments.

On the first level, two restaurants offer sumptuous dining. La Brasserie is the breakfast and lunch restaurant, offering European and Dominican fare. Try their plantains and eggs for breakfast or the ‘Dominican Flag’ dish made of red beans, rice and a choice of meats for lunch. For a more formal dining experience, try Window at the Brasserie. This features a fusion of cuisines blended with Dominican flavors to bring you an authentic, high-end dining experience. After dinner, one can head to Bambu Bar, located on the hotel’s pool deck, for a relaxing drink by the water. Otherwise, one can also stop at La Piazza Bar in the lobby area for a drink after a hard day of swimming and sunning.

Further along George Washington Avenue is the Marriott Renaissance Jaragua Hotel. This has much more accommodation than the Intercontinental, boasting 300 rooms and suites, most of which have great sea views. There is never a reason to get bored here, as the hotel offers nearby golf courses, and very own casino, pools and spa.  Las Lagunas Golf Club is 15 miles away, and has a driving range and putting green for those looking to get in some practice in great weather. The hotel’s spa offers treatments that range from simple massages to deluxe facials, and other therapies.

Image: R'eyes

The main breakfast and lunch restaurant is Quisqueya Restaurant. There is a buffet during breakfast and both buffet and a la carte menu offered during lunch. The Champions Sports Bar and Restaurants is considered one of the best sports bars in Santo Domingo and offers pool tables, sports memorabilia and great dining. The Merengue Bar and Lounge offers live entertainment and rhythmic beats every night – where you can have the time of your life and dance until the wee hours of the morning!