Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. The city is also the largest city in the country. It is the oldest permanent settlement established by Europeans in the Western Hemisphere. Hispaniola Island is located on the southeast coast.
The city, the first Spanish colony in the New World, is also the site where the first university, the first cathedral, the first castle and the monastery were established. The colonial center of the city, Zona Colonial, has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
When did Santa Domingo Become the Capital?
It was founded in 1496 by Bartolomeo, the brother of Christopher Columbus, as the headquarters of the first Spanish colony in the Loquat. When it collapsed in a hurricane, it was rebuilt in its present location on the right bank of the river (1502). Many expeditions of conquest and conquest to the West Indies and America were initiated there. Over time, the city became the administrative center of the Spanish territory in the United States, today lost its importance after the conquest of the territories within the borders of Mexico and Peru.
Between 1795 and 1809, Santo Domingo, under French rule, was ruled by the Spanish for a short time and was bound to neighboring Haiti. It became independent in 1844 and became the capital of the new Dominican Republic. In 1936, it was renamed Ciudad Trujillo by dictator Rafael Trujillo, but after the death of Trujillo in 1961, it was renamed.
Features of Santa Domingo
Santo Domingo has a population of 965,040 according to 2010 data. Santo Domingo has a surface area of 104.4 square kilometers. The city has a tropical climate and the coolest months are between December and March. Less moisture is seen during these periods. Between July and September temperatures are at the highest levels.
Santo Domingo is today the industrial, commercial and financial center of the country. The construction of hydroelectric power plants has enabled the industry to develop rapidly. The most important industries of the country such as metallurgy, petrochemical, textile, food processing, plastics and cement are gathered here. Passenger and freight traffic in the port is very intense. The city is home to the University of Autonomous Santo Domingo (1538), the oldest higher education institution in the Western Hemisphere.
Santo Domingo is a cultural, financial, political, commercial and industrial center and the country’s most important industries are always located there.
Important Places to See in Santa Domingo
Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, stands out as one of the most important and major cities of its location. The city, which has developed both in tourism and trade thanks to its busy harbor, attracts the attention of tourists with its artifacts dating back to its colonial period.
With its natural beauties, magnificent beaches and surrounding coral reefs, Santo Domingo is a major attraction and a major tourist destination that receives a high number of visits every year. The old and historic center of Santo Domingo, which was founded and began life before the discovery of America, is now considered a UNESCO-protected historical heritage.
The main sights of Santo Domingo are the Basilica of Santa María la Menor, the Museo de las Casas Reales and the Alcázar de Colón.