We met our guide for a free walking tour of the city of Santa Domingo.
He told us that this is a free tour but at the end we each needed to give him $10. He asked if we understood and agreed and even required a verbal response from each of us. So much for a free tour.
In 1496 Columbus started to build on the east side of the Ozama river. No structures remain because they were made of wood and destroyed by a hurricane. A white chapel is the only thing that remains since it was built of stones and bricks.
The early settlers decided to move west to ensure that they did not have an enemy to their backs. Also, silver and gold were found in the west, and plantations were established.
In 1498 Bartholomew, Columbus’ brother, founded Santo Domingo. It would go on to become the oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas.
Ozama River runs through the city and is the indigenous name for the river. A wall still partially present was constructed in 1546.
Who’s on first?
- Christopher Columbus was the first European to “discover” America.
- Santo Domingo is the first European city in the Americas and was established in 1502. It became a model for other cities in the Americas such as St. Augustine.
- Ponce de León came to Santo Domingo then to Puerto Rico then to the USA in 1512. Ponce de León was the first European to land on the mainland and even named the state of Florida.
- Santo Domingo had the first warehouse which included the first accounting office. The first courthouse was on the second floor.
- The first sundial in the New World was erected by the Spanish in the 18th century. (We didn’t think that it was working very well today.)
- The richest man in America, Diego Colón, son of Christopher Columbus, was the first family to have a house and private chapel for burying family remains.
- The first European street is called Las Damas. The women would go for a walk every day.
- The Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor of Santo Domingo was built between 1504-1550 and is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Inside are 14 chapels each built in different times and styles by different families.
Women were only given the right to vote in 1942. Often they were not allowed to attend school.
In the 19th century, Haiti was richer than the Dominican Republic and had a better army, more population, etc.
Haiti invaded the Dominican Republic from 1822-1844 and destroyed many churches. They practice voodoo and black magic.
In order to keep up the tradition of Firsts, in 1928 the first department store and the first tall building (seven floors) with the first elevator was built in art nouveau style.
We decided to get in on the fun: it was our FIRST trip to the Dominican Republic.
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