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The city of Santo Domingo
- Learn Spanish in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the bustling capital of Costa Rica, has a population of 2 million people. Despite its size, the city maintains the charm of a small town and the typical warmth of Latin culture around every corner. Old Santo Domingo's cobblestone streets, restored historic building and colonial homes will transport you to a different era, but whenever you wish you can enjoy this capital's modern side with fine restaurants for superb dining, top class hotels, merengue clubs, dazzling casinos, vibrant nightlife, fashionable shopping and much more.
Students love to take advantage of Santo Domingo's rich culture, old world charisma, rich colonial past and sophistication by going to theatres, museums and cinemas, which are dispersed throughout the city. Best of all, it is set on the island's southern coast, so you'll be just a short trip from the beach.
A good starting point to discover Santo Domingo is the Colonial City, located between Independence Park and the Ozama River. This was the first city built by European settlers in the New World, including Columbus's brother, Bartholomew and his son, Diego Columbus.
Calle de Las Damas is the first street ever built in the Americas and the site of numerous historic buildings including the Ozama Fortress, the oldest fortress in the Americas. There is also the house of Nicolás de Ovando, governor of Santo Domingo in the early 1500's and a ruthless warrior against the Taino Indians.
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The Museum of the Royal Houses is of great historical interest. It is a restored Spanish Court´s palace from the 16th century, which features a wonderful view into the past. Close to it you can visit the Alcázar de Colón (Castle of Columbus), which was built by Diego Columbus and his wife Maria de Toledo, niece of the Spanish King Ferdinand. A few streets over in the centre of the walled city, you can find the Cathedral known as Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, which was named in 1542 as the first New World´s cathedral by Pope Paul III.
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Santo Domingo is the ideal place for travellers interested in the old and the new as it takes visitors on a trip through the centuries with its wide range of national museums that celebrate all the past and present of Dominican life. Many of them are located in the Plaza de la Cultura, a large park area where visitors can stroll easily from museum to museum; they include the Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of the Dominican Man, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of History and Geography. Visitors will take pleasure looking at the fascinating history of the Dominican people including original Taino artifacts, gathering information on the Spanish conquerors and the African slaves at the Museum of the Dominican Man, as well as viewing the impressive modern art collection giving a new dimension into Dominican society at the Museum of Modern Art.
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