Everything about Santo Domingo totally explained
Santo Domingo de Guzmán (known as Santo Domingo) population 2,084,852 (Metro) (2003), estimated 2,253,437 (Metro) in 2006, is the
capital and largest city in the
Dominican Republic, and the seventh largest in North America. The city is located in the
Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the
Ozama River. It is the oldest continuously inhabited
European settlement in the Americas, and was the first seat of
Spanish colonial rule in the
New World . In 1930, the city of Santo Domingo was almost completely demolished by a tropical hurricane called
San Zenon. Dictator
Rafael Trujillo, the incumbent at the time, reconstructed the city and named it Ciudad Trujillo after himself. After his assassination in 1961, Ciudad Trujillo became Santo Domingo de Guzman, the current name. Santo Domingo de Guzman is within the boundaries of the
Distrito Nacional (D.N.) and the Santo Domingo Province surrounds it. In 2001 a law was approved making Santo Domingo de Guzmán (The City & D.N) less than 200 km² in size, making it the smallest administrative division in the country.
Please note that when the article refers to Santo Domingo it's most likely referring to the Greater Santo Domingo Area (D.N + Santo Domingo Province) to avoid confusion of the terms. In some cases it may say D.N. which specifically means the city Boundaries without including the surrounding Santo Domingo province.
History
Before the arrival of
Christopher Columbus in 1492, the
Taíno Indians populated the island they called
Quisqueya (mother of all lands) and
Ayiti (land of high mountains) or what is known today as
Hispaniola, including the part now occupied by the
Republic of Haiti. At the time, the island was governed by a system of Cacicazgos (chieftains) consisting of five divisions: Marién, Maguá, Maguana, Jaragua and Higüey. These cacicazgos were ruled respectively by
caciques (chiefs) Guacanagarix, Guarionex, Caonabo, Bohechío, and Cayacoa.
Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus, founded the settlement and named it after
Saint Dominic, which is today the oldest European city in the New World. In reality, the city dates back to 1496, the period when the first Europeans settled there, although it was officially founded on
August 5,
1498. Governor general
Nicolás de Ovando arrived in 1502 with a fleet of 30 ships and 2,500 men. Santo Domingo was destroyed by a hurricane shortly after his arrival and he'd it rebuilt on a different site nearby (Meining 1986:9). The original layout of the city and a large portion of its
defensive wall can still be appreciated today throughout the
Colonial Zone, declared a
World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1990. The Colonial Zone, bordered by the
Río Ozama also has an impressive collection of 16th century buildings, including
palatial houses and majestic
churches that reflect the architectural style of the late
medieval period.
The city's most important
colonial buildings include the
Catedral Santa María La Menor (
Catedral Primada de América), which is the first Catholic cathedral in America; the
Alcázar de Colón, once the residence of Don
Diego Colón, the son of Christopher Columbus who became
viceroy of the colony; the
Monasterio de San Francisco, the ruins of the first
monastery in America; the
Museo de las Casas Reales, the former Palace of the
Governor General and the
Palace of Royal Audiences; the
Parque Colón, a historic square; the
Fortaleza Ozama, the oldest fortress in America; the
Pantéon Nacional, a former
Jesuit edifice now hosting the remains of various renown members of the
Dominican Order; and the
Iglesia del Convento Dominico, the first convent in America.
Throughout its first century, Santo Domingo was the launching pad for much of the exploration and conquest of the New World. The expeditions that led to
Ponce de Leon's discovery of
Puerto Rico,
Hernando Cortes' conquest of
Mexico and
Balboa's sighting of the
Pacific Ocean all started from Santo Domingo.
In 1586,
Francis Drake invaded and pillaged Hispaniola. This so weakened Spanish dominion over the island that for more than 50 years all but the capital was abandoned and left to the mercy of the
pirates. In 1655, the
French invaded the west end of the island, and after several treaties and forced annexations, the portion of the island controlled by Santo Domingo was reduced to less than half. Later on, in 1822, the Haitians, commanded by
Jean-Pierre Boyer, liberated the entire island from
slavery,
Dominicans gained their independence from Haitian rule on February 27, 1844 led by their national hero
Juan Pablo Duarte.After various political factions struggled for control of Santo Domingo. In addition to this instability, the country had to fight continuous liberation movements, which were in their totality defeated. In 1861, the
Spanish returned to Santo Domingo and annexed the country for four years; this period is known as the
Anexión a España. After that, Santo Domingo went through many power changes, including the 20th century
Trujillo dictatorship (established after the 1916–1924 occupation by
U.S. Marines), which lasted from 1930 to 1961 and ended with the execution of the dictator (during this time Santo Domingo was known officially as Ciudad Trujillo); as well as the multiple presidencies of
Joaquin Balaguer, who governed the country for 22 years. These
civil wars and political struggles marked the first 70 years of the country's independence.
The year 1992 marked the 500th anniversary, El Quinto Centenario, of Christopher Columbus'
discovery of America. The Columbus Lighthouse (
Faro a Colón), with an approximate cost of 400 million
Dominican pesos, was erected, amidst great controversy, in honor of this occasion.
There are some
museums dedicated to the
history of the Dominican Republic, the
Museo de las Casas Reales is dedicated to the colonial period; while the soon-to-be renovated
Museo de Historia y Geografía is dedicated to the Dominican history
prior the Discovery up to contemporary times. The history of the Independence is summarized in the
Museo y Casa de Duarte and the
Altar de la Patria.
The
cobblestone streets and late
medieval architecture of the Western Hemisphere's first city let visitors glimpse the colonial past as vibrant nightlife, warm beaches and up-market resorts take historic Santo Domingo into its future.
Geography
Santo Domingo is separated from east to west by the
Ozama River The river flows 148 kilometers before emptying into the Caribbean Sea. This position was of great importance to the city's economic development and the growth of trade during colonial times. The
Ozama River is where the country's busiest port is located.
Metropolitan Santo Domingo is divided into four municipal Sections mostly for administrative reasons. These sections are Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Oeste, which all together make part of the
Santo Domingo province and
Santo Domingo de Guzman which is within the
D.N boundaries, all of which have different administrative orders. Santo Domingo to the north has the section of
Villa Mella (Municipal District) which makes part of Santo Domingo Norte (Municipal Section). To the east it has San Isidro (Municipal District) and to the west it borders Province of
San Cristobal and Bajos de Haina. The Ozama River and Isabella end at the Center of Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is relatively low in altitude with several high hills.
Climate
The average temperature varies little in the city, because the tropical tradewinds help mitigate the heat and humidity throughout the year. December and January are the coolest months and July and August are the warmest. Santo Domingo and the rest of the country are in the Caribbean and have a tropical climate, which makes them very vulnerable to hurricanes.
Development
Santo Domingo contains a wide variety of incomes, ranging from the extremely poor to the highly rich. Areas of high income families are found in the central Poligon of the city, which is bordered by the Autopista Kennedy to the North, Avenida 27 de Febrero to the South, Avenida Winston Churchill to the west and Maximo Gomez to the east and is characterized by its mostly residential area and its distinguished nightlife.
Santo Domingo has areas of high development like Naco, Arroyo Hondo, Piantini, Paraiso, Bella Vista, Sarasota and other neighborhoods, which mostly consist of costly buildings and luxury houses, contrasting with the outskirts of the city like
Villa Mella, Los Alcarrizos and Herrera which are less economically developed.
Bella Vista and La Esperilla are currently the neighborhoods with the highest income growth and with tall mega-construction projects sparking the city skyline. Gazcue is one of the more historic places in the city, dating back to its early construction in the 1930s until the 60's.
Commercial centers in the city are mostly found in Avenida Winston Churchill, where large plazas like Acropolis Center and large supermarkets are found. This area is home to most of the banks in the city like
Scotiabank, Citibank, Banco BHD, Banco del Progreso,
Banreservas, to name a few. 27 de Febrero Avenue is very commercially successful and is considered the most important crosstown avenue in the city. The oldest mall plazas in the country are Plaza Central and Plaza Naco, which served as the first commercial center in the city until the recent construction of others, which quickly became new alternatives. Bella Vista Mall and the Acropolis Center are two of the newest malls built in the city, attracting much of the high income families.
Most of the city's poor live in the barrios outside the center. Some live in extreme conditions of poverty and in slums, intensifying the city's economic contrast.
Santo Domingo Norte is statistically the poorest subdivision of the metropolitan area.
Government and Politics
Santo Domingo is the center of the national government of the Dominican Republic. The National Palace, which is the President's office, as well as the National Congress, are located in the metropolitan area.
The current mayor of the City of Santo Domingo is Roberto Esmérito Salcedo of the governing
Dominican Liberation Party. The City is administered by the
Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional (City Hall), which is responsible for municipal functions. The "Policia Nacional" (National Police) and "Policia Turística" (Tourist Police) (POLITUR) are assigned for enforcing city safety.
Landmarks
Famous landmarks in Santo Domingo include the
Calle El Conde, the
Puerta de la Misericordia, the
Catedral Santa María La Menor (
Catedral Primada de América), and the
Alcázar de Colón, all of which are located within the
Zona Colonial district of the city. This part was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.
Outside of the colonial quarters, the area surrounding the
Malecón (seawall) is a vibrant commercial and tourist center, having as a centerpiece the large obelisk located at the eastern end of the George Washington avenue.
Other places of interest are
Plaza de la Cultura, which houses the city's most important cultural venues such as the
Teatro Nacional and the
Museo de Arte Moderno; the
Palacio de Bellas Artes, a neoclassical theatre that's the permanent home of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (National Symphony Orchestra); the
Parque Mirador Sur, a six square kilometers park in the southwestern part of the city; the
Faro de Colón, a cross-shaped lighthouse built in honor of
Christopher Columbus; and the
Boulevard 27 de Febrero, a pedestrian promenade located on the busy Avenida 27 de Febrero which displays many works of art from prominent Dominican artists and sculptors.
Another attraction is the
Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte a sports complex in the center of Santo Domingo. This complex was used during the
2003 Pan-American Games, but has been severely abandoned since.
Oldest Continuously Populated City in The New World. It can be traced back to as early as 1500's after Columbus arrival. Colonial City is a
UNESCO Historic Site. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492
Museums
The City of Santo Domingo has numerous museums, most of them are within the Zona Colonial District.
Parks and Recreational Areas
Santo Domingo has various parks, three of which are called Miradores and are located in the North, South and east sections of the city. Even though these parks are relatively big, Santo Domingo still lacks enough recreational areas.
Mirador Norte Park, lies in the North of the city close to Villa Mella
Enriquillo Park
Mirador Sur Park, located in the Southwest section of the city
Mirador Este Park, located across the Ozama River near Faro Colón
Independencia Park, located in Zona Colonial
Colón Park, located in Zona Colonial
Las Praderas Metropolitan Park
The Malecon, cityfront coastal park
Dr. Rafael M. Mascoso National Botanical Garden
National Zoo
Barrio Chino (Chinatown )
Transportation
Informal
Santo Domingo is provided with a large amount of informal transportation due to the lack of government funded transportation. These kinds of informal transportation is either by conchos(Cheap motorcycle taxi), Guaguas/voladoras(Cheap old buses), and carro publicos(share taxi).
Highways
The City of Santo Domingo is the Terminus for three of the five national highway connecting the city to the rest of the country. The city is provided access to the Southwest by national highway DR-2,Northwest by DR-1 including the second most important city of the country, Santiago, connected to the east by the most modern highway of the country DR-3 and recently will be connected to the northeast by a junction of the newly constructed Samana Highway with DR-3
Rail
Santo Domingo Metro is a 15km underground and elevated system consisting of three proposed lines. The first line is currently under construction and crosses the Santo Domingo province from north to south. This line will begin elevated at Villa Mella (Santo Domingo Norte), located north of the Isabela River and north of the city center and will terminate at Centro de los Héroes in the southern coast of Santo Domingo, near the seawall district (Malecon). Some of the stops on the first line will be the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre), the main campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and Avenida Lincoln.
The second line is proposed to run in an east-west direction beneath Avenida 27 de Febrero, crossing the first line. The third line will also run in an east-west direction, but it'll run beneath Avenida John F. Kennedy.
The first line is expected to be completed for February 27, 2008, but not available to the public until May 2008. Presently around 85% of the physical construction is done and the viaduct is almost completely finished.
The Charles de Gaulle station will be named after Dominican martyr Florinda Soriano Muñoz (Mamá Tingó).
Airports
Las Américas International Airport
Santo Domingo is served by two international airports, the main one being Las Américas International Airport JFPG. The airport has two terminals, the newer one just completed in 2006 added four more gates on the northern end of the facility. The airport is currently the busiest in the country, handling over 2.5 million passengers per year.
La Isabela International Airport
The Aeropuerto Internacional La Isabela is a secondary, newly constructed airport located in the northern section of the city, within kilometres of the city center. It isn't currently used as a major international airport, servicing mostly domestic and charter flights. It was built to replace the obsolete Herrera Airport, which was considered by many too dangerous due to the proximity to commercial and residential areas. La Isabela Airport is also conveniently located just on the outskirts of the city and most of the internal flights of the country can be carried out here, flights to the north of the island such as Samana can be booked here with airlines serving like caribair and aerodomca. Many pilots also cited the length of the runway as inadequate for most private jets .
Ports
Port of Santo Domingo: Sans Souci
is located in the Ozama River. Its location at the center of the Caribbean is well suited for flexible itinerary planning and has excellent support, road and airport infrastructure within the Santo Domingo region, which facilitate access and transfers. The port is suitable for both turnaround and transit calls.
The port’s renovation is part of a major redevelopment project, aimed at integrating the port area and the Zona Colonial and foster a cruise, yacht and high-end tourism destination. Supported by legislation approved in 2005, the project, developed by the Sans Souci Group also includes the development of a new sports marina and a 122-acre mixed-leisure real estate development adjacent to the port.
Communication
Television Signals In Santo Domingo
They are 15 TV stations (both UHF and VHF) in Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo has the greatest number of TV signals in the country, followed by Santiago De los Caballeros.
Additional cable TV channels are provided by companies like Aster, Cable TV Dominicana and Telecable.
VHF
Teleantillas (2)
CERTV (4)
Telemicro (5)
Antena Latina (7)
Color Visión (9)
Telesistema (11)
Telecentro (13)
UHF
Digital 15 (15)
Telefuturo (23)
RNN (27)
Supercanal (33)
CDN (37)
Coral 39 (39)
Teleradio América (canal 45)
Santo Domingo TV (canal 69)
Radio Stations In Santo Domingo
In Santo Domingo there are 100 different stations in AM frequency and 44 in FM frequency.
Telephone Provider
CODETEL (Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos) was originally the provider of telephone service in the Dominican Republic since the 1940s. The company was later bought by GTE (Later Verizon). By 2004 the company was named Verizon Dominicana; and was later sold to América Móvil; it was named CODETEL again, because of marketing strategy. The company uses the name Claro for its cellular phones division. The second landline competitor is Tricom, which is a minor competitor, Codetel being the dominant service provider in the country. Other mobile providers include Tricom, Cenntenial and Orange, the last and Claro having the majority of the mobile phone service provider market.
The National Area Codes are 809 and 829. In 2005 a new area code (829) was made as an overlay of 809 due to the increase of fax, internet, mobile, and ground lines created in the last decade. The Dominican Republic uses +1-809-XXX-XXXX and +1-829-XXX-XXXX as the official format for telephone numbers.
Internet Information
.do is the internet code for The Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has an estimated 1,000,000 internet users.
Education
There are eighteen universities in Santo Domingo, the highest number of any city in the Dominican Republic. Established in 1538, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) is the oldest university in the New World and is also the only public university in the city. Santo Domingo holds the nation's highest percentage of residents with a higher education degree. .
Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD)
Universidad Adventista Dominicana (UNAD)
Universidad APEC (UNAPEC)
Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE)
Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) (UNIBE)
Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo (UCSD)
Universidad de la Tercera Edad (UTE)
Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA)
Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU)
Instituto de Ciencias Exactas (INCE)
Universidad Organización y Método (O&M)
Universidad Interamericana (UNICA)
Universidad Eugenio María de Hostos (UNIREMOS)
Universidad Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal (UFHEC)
Universidad Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano (UNICDA)
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)
Instituto Tecnológico de las Americas (ITLA)
Photo Gallery
Image:MaleconG.jpg|The coast of the City of Santo Domingo. "El Malecón"
Image:Santo_Domingo_15.jpg|Santo Domingo's modern architecture.
Image:Santo Domingo 10.jpg| Section of La Esperilla, a high area of development within the D. N.
Image:Zona Colonial 2.jpg|Town Houses in Zona Colonial
Image:Santo Domingo 13.jpg|John F. Kennedy Avenue, Santo Domingo.
Image:SD Noche 2.jpg|Santo Domingo at night.
Image:DSC07452.JPG|1600's Colonial style buildings in Zona Colonial
Image:Avenida Anacaona.jpg|Anacaona Avenue in Santo Domingo.
Image:BellaVistamall.jpg|Bella Vista Mall & Plaza, the city’s newest upscale mall
Image:Downtown Santo Domingo1.jpg|Downtown Area
Image:1119482688 2a1f608d26 b.jpg|First Apartment of the Americas
Image:Alcazar de Colon.jpg|Alcazar de Colon
Sister cities
Santo Domingo has twinning agreements with the following sister cities:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Santo Domingo'.
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