Fast Santo Domingo Old City

OVERVIEW

See the historical highlights in the capital Santo Domingo, a colonial town that Bartholomew Columbus founded on the Ozama River in 1498. Even so, the Columbus Lighthouse honors Christopher, Bartholomew’s more famous older brother. It was inaugurated in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of the explorer’s first voyage to the New World. Following a revealing look at the beacon’s exterior, you will visit the Alcázar de Colon, a limestone palace that Christopher’s son Diego built while governor. It lies in the Colonial Zone, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site because its grid layout became the model for future colonial cities. While browsing the rare artifacts at the Museum of the Royal Houses, you will discover more fascinating details about the settling of Santo Domingo and the indigenous pre-Columbian Taino people. That history will really come alive as you watch an immersive 4D movie at the Colonial Gate Cinema.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the history of Santo Domingo through its most significant landmarks.
• Gain insight into how the family of Christopher Columbus influenced the city.
• See the Columbus Lighthouse and the palace that Columbus’s son built while governor.
• Explore the Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Watch an immersive 4D movie that brings the history of Santo Domingo to life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.