What is Santo Domingo?

Santo Domingo de Guzman
Downtown Santo Domingo Downtown Santo Domingo
Nickname: La Capital
Motto: Ciudad Primada de América
Coordinates:
Country	Dominican Republic
Province	Distrito Nacional (National District)
Founded	August 5, 1494
Government
- Mayor	Roberto Salcedo
Area
- City	104.44 km  (0 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- City	913,540
- Density	8747/km (0/sq mi)
- Metro	2,253,437
Website: [1]

Santo Domingo de Guzman (known as Santo Domingo) population 2,061,200 (Metro) (2003), estimated 2,253,437 (Metro) in 2006, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. The city is located at 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 (with CIA involvement) in 1961, Ciudad Trujillo became Santo Domingo de Guzman as today's actual name. Santo Domingo de Guzman is within the boundaries of the Distrito Nacional and the Santo Domingo Province sorrounds 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 is 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

Main article: History of the Dominican Republic

Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Taíno Indians populated the island they called Quisqueya (mother of all lands) or what is known today as Hispaniola, including the part now occupied by Haiti. At the time, the island was governed by a system of Casicazgo (chieftains) consisting of five divisions; Marien, Magua, Maguana, Jaragua and Higuey by caciques(chiefs) like Guacanagarix, Maireni, Macorix, Caonabo, Enriquillo, Hatuey among others.

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 20 ships and 2,500 men. Santo Domingo was destroyed by a hurricane shortly after his arrival and he had 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 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 the 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, took over the entire island, and the island's Spanish-speaking residents had to fight for their lost independence and survival. Finally, on February 27, 1844, the Spanish part of the island regained its independence after 22 years of Haitian rule due to a group of patriots headed by Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Ramón Matías Mella, being the Puerta del Conde the main scenario of this relevant event. It was then when the Spanish part of the island became the country known today as the Dominican Republic.

After independence was achieved, various political factions struggled for control of Santo Domingo. In addition to this instability, the country had to fight continuous Haitian incursions, 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 located on the south central coast of the island of Hispaniola where it meets 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, located to the east of the city, 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.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Dominican Republic

The demographics of Santo Domingo mirror those of the rest of the country, except in that the illegal Haitian immigrant population is larger in the capital due to the relative ease of finding work in the city . There are also communities from East Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Extensive growth of the city has been noticed since the mid-90's and urbanization has been an issue as in all of the other cities around the world.

Economy

Main article: Economy Of Santo Domingo

The economy of Santo Domingo has a GDP(PPP) of US$30 to 45$ billion and is mainly supported by services and manufacturing. Santo Domingo, as the capital of the Dominican Republic, has been experiencing great economic growth and development. Urban growth is most noticeable with the construction of skyscrapers, shopping malls, improvement in the road network and increased commercial activity. As one of the largest cities in the Caribbean, it has the highest availability of services and most of the nation's companies have their national headquarters in the city. Santo Domingo de Guzmán enjoys the highest standard of living in the nation, often resembling those of a developed nation, but poverty can still be seen along the marginalized areas of the city. Many people from rural areas have been periodically moving into the city in search for job opportunities and thus forming what is known as the "immigration belt", which surrounds the developed area of the city. Santo Domingo is considered a city of economic contrast in the same way as much of the cities in Latin America.

Different Areas of the City and Income

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, 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

The mayor of the City of Santo Domingo is Roberto Salcedo of the governing Dominican Liberation Party. The City is administered by the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional (City Administration of the Distrito Nacional), which is responsible for municipal functions. The “Policia Nacional” is the Department encharged of enforcing city safety. The Santo Domingo province, even though not part of Santo Domingo (D.N & Capital) since 2002, is still considered a part of the greater metropolitan area and is divided into municipalities which have their own local mayor.

Crime

In the past five years crime has been a big issue in Santo Domingo and the rest of the country. Following the 2003 Collapse of a major Dominican bank (Baninter), which significantly brought the economy to the verge of a collapse, crime has soared. In Santo Domingo, crime rates are high, especially those involving assaults, theft, weapons and in some cases drug sale. In 2006, incumbent president Leonel Fernandez published a decree prohibiting the sales of alcoholic beverages after midnight on weekdays, causing a great deal of controversy. Despite efforts to control violence, citizens say little has been done to confront it. Although crime has calmed down in 2007, it is still present in alarmingly high levels

Education

There are eighteen universities in Santo Domingo, the highest number of any city in the Dominican Republic. Established in 1538, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo is the oldest university in the New World and is also the only public university in the city. The city of 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)

Landmarks

Famous landmarks in Santo Domingo include the Calle el Conde, the Puerta de la Misericordia, the Catedral Primada de America, and the Alcázar de Colón, all of which are located within the Zona Colonial district of the city. 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 Avenida George Washington.

Other places of interest are the 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 is the permanent home of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (National Symphony Orchestra); the Parque Mirador Sur, a six-kilometre park in the southwestern part of the city; the Faro a 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 Olimpico Juan Pablo Duarte a sports complex in the center of Santo Domingo. This complex was used during the 2003 Pan-American Games.

Transportation

Transportation

Public transport

The main public transportation system is managed by the Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses (OMSA), which is funded by the government. The OMSA buses run on schedule most of the time and serve as an inexpensive way to get around the city. Buses without air conditioning cost $5DOP (Dominican Peso), roughly $.17USD[1USD-33DOP], whereas buses with air conditioning cost $10DOP and tend to be more comfortable and less crowded. There are also express buses that only stop at major transportation hubs.

• Independent Bus Companies:

There are many private bus companies that have starting and stopping points all around the city. These smaller buses generally wait at these stopping points until they have a sufficient number of passengers to leave. If passengers know where the bus is going (the destinations are often indicated by a sign in the front windshield), they can flag it down by outstretching an arm and pointing downward.

These buses usually don't have scheduled stops, so if passengers want to get off, they need to inform the “cobrador”, a person who stands at the door and collects the “pasaje” (fare) and will ask the driver to stop. This man will also hang out of the bus door - even while the bus is in motion - to make room for more passengers.

• Private Bus Companies:

There are several private companies that offer bus coach services from Santo Domingo to various destinations within the country. These services run daily, with some operating several trips a day on the most popular or frequent routes, such as Santo Domingo - Punta Cana, Santo Domingo - Santiago, among others.

• Carros Públicos (Share a Taxi):

Another method of transportation used by the general public is “carros públicos” (share a taxi) which are informal taxis that run up and down a street. They are more expensive than OMSA buses, but considerably less expensive than regular taxis.

The ride is shared with others in close quarters, which makes this form of transportation dangerous for tourists who become easy targets for pickpockets. The safest transportation is had by calling a regular taxi or renting a car.

• Motoconchos (Motorcycle Taxis):

Although not as common in the capital as in the country , motoconchos are small motorcycles that offer taxi services.

Highways

There are 5 major highways in the Dominican Republic that link the city to different areas in the country. DR-1 is the longest, connecting Santo Domingo to Santiago de los Caballeros and other cities in the north. DR-2 connects the city to the southwestern region of the island. DR-3 connects the city of Santo Domingo with the eastern region of the country, which is where most tourist hotels and resorts are found.

Rail transport

• Santo Domingo Metro: (under construction)

Main article: Santo Domingo Metro

The 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 will run beneath Avenida John F. Kennedy.

The first line is expected to be completed for February 27, 2008, the day of Independence of the Dominican Republic, but not available to the public until late June 2008. Presently around 75% 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.^[1]

• 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 is not 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. Many pilots also cited the length of the runway as inadequate for most private jets .

Places of interest

Colonial District of Santo Domingo

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.

Museums

The City of Santo Domingo has a numerous museums, most of them are within the Zona Colonial District.

• Museum of Alcázar
• Naval Museum of the Atarazanas
• Museum of the Casas Reales
• Museum of Duarte
• Museum of Natural History
• Museum of Dominican Man
• World of Ambar Museum
• Museum of Modern Art
• National Museum of History and Geography

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. Eventhough 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
• Botanical Gardens
• National Zoo
• '''Barrio Chino ( Chinatown )

Sports

Santo Domingo is home to the Leones del Escogido and Tigres del Licey baseball clubs of the Dominican Winter League. Estadio Quisqueya serves as the home stadium for both teams. Baseball is the most popular sport in the city, however, basketball, tennis, golf and other sports are played as well. Centro Olimpico Juan Pablo Duarte is the central sports complex of the city, located at the center of the city. Estadio Quisqueya is undergoing an expansion and re-construction project for the 2008-09 Winter League Season.

They are several Sporting Clubs in the city of Santo Domingo (Private). The most popular are Club Arroyo Hondo, Club Naco, Club Paraiso, Club los Prados and the Santo Domingo Tennis Club which is a very popular tennis center.

Photo Gallery

The coast of the City of Santo Domingo. "El Malecon"	Santo Domingo's modern architecture.	Section of La Esperilla a high area of development within the D.N	Town Houses in Zona Colonial
John F Kennedy Avenue, Santo Domingo	Santo Domingo by night	1600's Colonial Styled Buildings in Zona Colonial	Anacaona Avenue in Santo Domingo
Bella Vista Mall & Plaza, the city’s newest upscale mall	Dense Area	Alcazar de Colon in the historic Center of Santo Domingo"Zona Colonial"

Notable residents

• Juan Luis Guerra,singer
• Francisco Garcia, GF for the Sacramento Kings
• Albert Pujols, infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals
• David Ortiz, designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox
• Manny Ramirez, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox
• Sammy Sosa, outfielder for the Texas Rangers
• Anaís, singer
• Moise Alou, outfielder for the New York Mets
• Pedro Martinez, Pitcher for the New York Mets

See also

• 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo
• Highways of the Dominican Republic
• Communications in Santo Domingo
• Dominican Republic
• Metro de Santo Domingo
• Colonial City of Santo Domingo

References

• Meinig, D.W. (1986). The Shaping of America: a Geographic Perspective on 500 Years of History. Volume I - Atlantic America, 1492-1800. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-03882-8
• Santo Domingo; Fragmentos De Patria by Banreservas ISBN 99934-898-9-5
• Dominicana Online, República Dominicana
• Santo Domingo, República Dominicana: a complete guide about Dominican Republic in Spanish

•  • [ e] Capitals of North America

Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe – Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis – Belmopan, Belize – Bridgetown, Barbados – Castries, Saint Lucia – Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands – Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos – Fort-de-France, Martinique – George Town, Cayman Islands – Guatemala City, Guatemala – Gustavia, Saint-Barthlemy – Hamilton, Bermuda – Havana, Cuba – Kingston, Jamaica – Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Managua, Nicaragua – Marigot, Saint-Martin – Mexico City, D.F., Mexico – Nassau, Bahamas – Nuuk, Greenland – Oranjestad, Aruba – Ottawa, Canada – Panama City, Panama – Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Plymouth, Montserrat – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Road Town, British Virgin Islands – Roseau, Dominica – Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon – San Jos, Costa Rica – San Juan, Puerto Rico – San Salvador, El Salvador – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – St. George's, Grenada – St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda – Tegucigalpa, Honduras – The Valley, Anguilla – Washington D.C., United States of America – Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles

•  • [ e] Provincial capitals of the Dominican Republic

zua de Compostela Ban Bonao Comendador Concepcin de la Vega Cotu Dajabn Hato Mayor del Rey Jiman La Romana Mao Moca Monte Plata Neyba Pedernales Salcedo Salvalen de Higey San Cristbal San Felipe de Puerto Plata San Fernando de Monte Cristi San Francisco de Macors San Ignacio de Sabaneta San Jos de Ocoa San Juan de la Maguana San Pedro de Macors Santa Barbra de Saman Santa Cruz de Barahona Santa Cruz del Seibo Santiago de los Caballeros Santo Domingo de Guzmn (D.N.) Santo Domingo Este Trinidad Snchez Nagua

•  • [ e] Pan American Games host cities
1951: Buenos Aires  1955: Mexico City  1959: Chicago  1963: So Paulo  1967: Winnipeg  1971: Cali  1975: Mexico City  1979: San Juan  1983: Caracas  1987: Indianapolis  1991: Havana  1995: Mar del Plata  1999: Winnipeg  2003: Santo Domingo  2007: Rio de Janeiro  2011: Guadalajara •''