What relics of the colonial past can you uncover in Punta Cana?

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Dominican Republic has a rich heritage and thus a vestige of a flourishing colonial past. Spending your holiday in Punta Cana is an opportunity to visit Santo Domingo, the capital which served as a favourite area for urban planners who arrived in the New World. The most beautiful colonial buildings on the island can be seen there.

Santo Domingo: a must-visit colonial city!

If you ever dreamt of visiting the old colonial sites during your trip to Punta Cana, go to Santo Domingo! There, you can see the colonial sites in the historical centre of the city, along the Ozama River. This place is distinguished by its checkerboard structure. Later on, this plan was used as a model for almost all large cities in Latin America. Visit godominicanrepublic.com to learn more about the subject. Santo Domingo has the privilege of housing the very first major institutions established in the Americas. It is a true walled city whic where you can admire a unique fortress, the Torre del Homenaje, which also served to protect the area.

The attributes of the city of Santo Domingo

It is very easy to get to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana; it is only a 2-hour drive from this destination. The capital of the Dominican Republic is home to several colonial buildings with beautiful 15th century architecture. Along the 32 streets that make up the city, you can see beautiful adobe, stone and brick buildings. You can also admire the gothic style of the houses. All these old infrastructures provide a unique and authentic landscape to a spot located not far from Punta Cana.

The unmissable colonial monuments

Among the colonial sites, some are more distinctive than others. For instance, the famous cathedral is one of the first of its kind in America. Around it are the colonial administrative offices. Not far from there is the house of Christopher Columbus, obviously a must-see landmark! You can also visit the famous Columbus Lighthouse. Likewise, a visit to the Herman Cortes house is worthwhile. It should be noted, however, that it is now the residence of the French embassy. Santo Domingo was the first permanent settlement of the former European colonial empire. The city is the center of all the first colonial administrative establishments. It used to house the first hospital ever built in all of North America as well as the first university in America.