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Santo Domingo Attractions -2
Santa Domingo Attractions
The National Aquarium [the Acuario Nacional].
The National Aquarium, is a medium-sized aquarium where the main attraction is the huge fish tank with a Plexiglas tunnel passing through it. Tamaury, a giant manatee, is the star of the park although there are also sharks, turtles, and crabs commonly found in Dominican waters.
Los Tres Ojos [see above right]
An impressive 50-foot deep cave with three lagoons surrounded by stalagmites and lush vegetation.
Above: Catedral Basilica Menor de Santa Marie
Botanical Gardens and Parks
The Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens are the largest in the Caribbean. Exhibits include the natural flora of the island and areas dedicated to palm trees, orchids and exotic plants. There is also a beautiful Japanese garden.
The botanical gardens were the brainchild of the five times president Joaquin Balaguer who died in 2002 aged 97 yrs.
Catedral Basilica Menor de Santa Marie, Primera de America
The most important monument in the Dominican Republic Capital, the first cathedral of the Americas. Diego Columbus, son of Christopher laid the first stone and it took 40 years to build. [cont below left]
Above: Los Tres Ojos
Above: Duarte Museum
Malecon (seawall)
Outside of the colonial zone, the area surrounding the colonial zone is a vibrant commercial and tourist center. The centerpiece
is the large obelisk located at the eastern end of the George Washington avenue.
The malecon is a favourite evening promenading spot for Dominicans, and the kiosks along this part of the Southern sea front blast out merengue usually into the small hours, particularly at week-ends, when part of the road is closed off for pedestrians.
[cont right]
Facts about Santo Domingo The first Europeans settled in 1496 Population est. 2,253,437 [2006] Bartholomew Columbus founded it and and named it after Saint Dominic Pre 1961, Santo Domingo was formerly known as Ciudad Trujillo, after the dictator Trujillo, Santo Domingo is separated from east to west by the Ozama River The furthest western border, the north coast and east coast are all a four hour drive
Golf
Try the 18-hole Las Lagunas Country Club 20 kilometres north of the city at 20 Duarte Highway, Tel. 809 372-7441.
This is a great and challenging layout on which you need to be fairly straight off the tee! If you want something a bit more gentle and central, why not try the 9-hole course at Isabel Villas Country Club at Avenida Belice.
Shopping
There are several large shopping centers. The Mercado Modelo at Avenida Mella, a farmer's market turned into giant gift shop,
offers the largest selection of handicrafts. Several gift shops are located on Arzobispo Merino and Isabel la Catolica in the Colonial City.
Above: There are some sights on the road in the DR. I took this photo in the Colonial Zone of the rider carrying a pane of glass!
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