Simply strolling through Santo Domingo, the oldest city in the New World, will turn up more than a few landmarks and sites worth seeing. Moving outside of the city, you will find a number of landmarks, including lighthouses and historic churches.

Historic Homes and Buildings

In Santo Domingo there are a number of homes and structures that offer views of Spanish inspired architecture and glimpses into what life was like for inhabitants hundreds of years ago.

One of the most visited of these historic homes is Alcázar De Colón, the home of Christopher Columbus’s son Diego, and his wife, who was the niece to the king of Spain. Diego was the governor of the Dominican Republic beginning in 1509, and lived in the home, which was always bustling with visitors and functions. Alcázar de Colón is comprised of two dozen rooms decorated with paintings and relics from the era. Visitors can tour the grounds between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, it closes at 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Right near Alcázar de Colón is Cord House, which is the oldest stone house in the Western Hemisphere (circa 1504). It was built by one of Christopher Columbus’s crew mates, and welcomed many notable guests in its time. The building is open for tours between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

Museums

In case you like to learn about unfamiliar places and cultures, you should consider visiting a museum while on vacation on Dominican Republic. Click on the each name to get additional information.

A landmark that often intrigues visitors is Museo Hermanas Mirabal. It is located within Salcedo, Dominican Republic. Museo Hermanos Mirabal is open between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Another common landmark for vacationers is Museo Mundo De Ambar. It is located in Zona Colonial, in central Dominican Republic. Amber is not only a stone fit to be set in jewelry, but it also gives a geological picture of the area is it found in. At the Amber World Museum, you can view pieces of amber which within them have a number of fossilized creatures and vegetation.

Museum Of Rum and Sugar Cane: The museum will take guests through the history of sugar cultivation and consumption on the island; from the small fields to large plantations. Off course, this eventually leads to the Dominican Republic’s production of rum, which take up many of the exhibits.

The table right below provides a few details concerning the available museums on Dominican Republic.

Museums In Dominican Republic

Name	Phone	Location
Agencia Dhi Atlas Sucursal III	(809) 333-9063	Downtown Santo Domingo
Altos de Chavon	(809) 541-5652	Downtown Santo Domingo
Ambasa	(809) 682-3309	Downtown Santo Domingo
Amber Museum	(809) 586-2848	Downtown Puerto Plata
Candido Bido Banoa	(809) 525-7707	Bonao, Central Dominican Republic
Casa De Tostado	(809) 689-5000	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Casa Museo Tiburcio	(809) 304-6510	Bonao, Central Dominican Republic
Casa Museo de Ponce de Leon	(809) 221-8023	6.0 mi. Northwest of Central Boca De Yuma
Casa del Arte	(809) 471-7839	Santiago De Los Caballeros, Northwestern part of Dominican Republic
Centro León	(809) 582-2315	2.1 mi. East of Central Santiago De Los Caballeros
Cuvamar	(809) 295-6280	Santiago De Los Caballeros
El Faro a Colón Museum	(809) 591-1492	Central Dominican Republic
House Of Generalisimo Maximo Gomez	(809) 579-2474	0.3 mi. North of Central Monte Cristi
Instituto Duartiano	(809) 682-3761	Downtown Santo Domingo
Jewish Museum of Sosua	(809) 571-3565	0.8 mi. Northwest of Central Sosua
Larimar Museum	(809) 689-6605	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Modern Art Museum	(809) 685-2153	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museo Bellapart	(809) 541-7721	Central Dominican Republic
Museo Casa De Duarte	(809) 687-1436	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museo De La Comunidad Judía De Sosúa	(809) 571-1386	7.0 mi. West of Central Cabarete
Museo De La Naturaleza	—	Sabana De La Mar, Central Dominican Republic
Museo De La Porcelana	(809) 688-4759	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Museo De Lary Mar	(809) 523-6876	Boca Chica, Central Dominican Republic
Museo Hermanas Mirabal	(809) 587-8530	4.7 mi. East-Northeast of Central Cayetano Germosen
Museo Infantil Trampolín	(809) 685-5551	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Museo Memorial De La Resistencia Dominicana	(809) 688-4440	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museo Mundo De Ambar	(809) 523-5668	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural	(809) 689-0106	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museo Nacional de Historia y Geografia	(809) 686-6668	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museo Parque Nacional de los Haitises	—	Sabana De La Mar, Central Dominican Republic
Museo Presidente Ramon Caceres	(809) 578-9691	4.4 mi. Northwest of Central Cayetano Germosen
Museo Regional de Antropologia	(809) 529-3562 ext. 319	San Pedro De Macoris, Central Dominican Republic
Museo de Montecristi	(809) 579-2832	0.6 mi. West-Northwest of Central Monte Cristi
Museo de San Pedro de Macoris	(809) 529-1078	San Pedro De Macoris, Central Dominican Republic
Museo de la Altagracia	(809) 554-2748	0.3 mi. West of Central Higuey
Museo de la Familia Dominicana	(809) 689-5000	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Museo del Hombre Dominicano	(809) 687-3622	Downtown Santo Domingo
Museum Of Rum and Sugar Cane	(809) 685-5111	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
On Movil S A	(809) 333-7768	Boca Chica, Central Dominican Republic
Paerez Valoy, Julio Caesar	(809) 333-9063	Downtown Santo Domingo
Shipwreck Maritime Museum	(809) 538-2559	9.6 mi. West-Southwest of Central Arroyo Del Cabo
Taller Publico Silvano Lora	(809) 689-9835	Downtown Santo Domingo
Tobacco Museum	—	0.6 mi. South of Central Santiago De Los Caballeros
Whale Museum Of Samana	(809) 538-2042	7.0 mi. West of Central Balandra

Historical Sites

Enjoy learning some of the historical roots of countries you visit? If so, you might want to visit one or two of these historical sites during your vacation.

Many travelers choose to visit Ruinas Del Hospital San Nicolás De Bari. It is located in Zona Colonial, in central Dominican Republic. Built in 1503, these ruins once made up what was the New World’s first hospital. Fully operation until its demise, the hospital survived for 408 years when a hurricane damaged in 1911 beyond repair.

Another popular destination is National Pantheon. It is located in Zona Colonial, in central Dominican Republic. The is today known as the National Pantheon was started as a Jesuit church and took thirty-two years to build, finished in 1746. During the reign of Trujillo, the dictator sought to make the site his mausoleum.

Casa Del Cordon: Unfortunately, guests will only be able to view the house from the outside and from the lobby of the bank.

Check the following table for information concerning historic sites on Dominican Republic.

Historic Sites In Dominican Republic

Name	Phone	Location
Alcázar De Colón	(809) 686-8657	Downtown Santo Domingo
Basílica de la Santísima Cruz de El Seibo	—	0.2 mi. East-Southeast of Central El Seibo
Battery Of The Admiral	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Birgenair Flight 301 Memorial	—	1.0 mi. Northwest of Central Puerto Plata
Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios	(809) 686-8657	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Carcel San Felipe	—	1.1 mi. South-Southwest of Central Puerto Plata
Carlos Goico House	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Casa De Bastidas	(809) 541-5652	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Casa Del Cordon	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Casa Del Tapao	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Casa de Caoba	—	Central Dominican Republic
Casa de Francia	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Catedral Primada de América	(809) 689-1920	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Catedral de Santiago Apóstol	(809) 581-8048	0.6 mi. South-Southwest of Central Santiago De Los Caballeros
Ceiba De Colon	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Cord House	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
El Arco	—	0.2 mi. Southeast of Central Barahona
El Corral de los Indios	—	3.3 mi. North of Central San Juan de la Maguana
Fort Of Charity	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fort Of San Jose	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Fort San Gil	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fortaleza La Concepcion	—	0.3 mi. East of Central La Vega
Fortaleza Ozama	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Fortaleza Restauración Ejército Nacional	—	0.5 mi. East of Central Barahona
Fortaleza San Felipe	(809) 261-6043	1.0 mi. Northwest of Central Puerto Plata
Fortaleza San Luis	—	0.7 mi. South of Central Santiago De Los Caballeros
Fortaleza Santa Cruz	—	0.3 mi. Northwest of Central El Seibo
Fuerte De Angulo	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fuerte De La Concepcion	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fuerte De San Diego	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fuerte De San Lazaro	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fuerte De San Miguel	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Fuerte De Santa Bárbara	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
House Of The Presidents	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Iglesia Santa Lucia	—	0.4 mi. West of Central Las Matas de Farfan
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes	(809) 682-3744	1.4 mi. South-Southwest of Central Bani
Iglesia de San Miguel	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Las Pirámides	—	4.7 mi. South of Central Constanza
Monumento A La Caña	—	Central Dominican Republic
Monumento A La Cruz De Asomante	—	0.2 mi. Northwest of Central El Seibo
Monumento A Los Heroes De Constanza, Maimón Y Estero Hondo	—	Central Dominican Republic
Monumento A Los Heroes De Palo Hincado	—	0.2 mi. East of Central El Seibo
Morey Building	—	San Pedro De Macoris, Central Dominican Republic
Museo De Las Casas Reales	(809) 682-4202	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
National Pantheon	(809) 541-5652	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Palacio Consistorial	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Palacio de Cerro	—	San Cristobal, Central Dominican Republic
Panteón de la Patria	(809) 685-4466	Santo Domingo
Parque Duarte Santo Domingo	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Parroquia de Samana	—	0.1 mi. Southeast of Central Samana
Pozo de la Virgen	—	0.2 mi. South of Central Higuey
Puerta De La Misericordia	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Puerta De San Diego	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Residencia del Nicolas de Ovando	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Ruinas Del Hospital San Nicolás De Bari	(809) 541-5652	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Ruinas Monasterio De San Francisco	(809) 687-4722	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Santo Cerro	—	4.3 mi. North-Northwest of Central La Vega
Santo Domingo Colonial District	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo North Walls	—	Downtown Santo Domingo
Santuario San Dionisio	—	0.2 mi. South of Central Higuey
St. Peter’s Church	—	0.1 mi. East-Southeast of Central Samana
Stairs Of Las Damas	—	Zona Colonial, Central Dominican Republic
Villa Dona Emilia	—	0.5 mi. Northwest of Central Monte Cristi

Miscellaneous Landmarks

Vacationers can explore some other intriguing landmarks on Dominican Republic.

Monumento a Francisco Caamano Deno is a monument The monument is dedicated to Francisco Caamano Deno, the leader of two revolts in the Dominican Republic. The first was in defense of the under-siege democratic government, and the second was in hopes to bring down Trujillo’s government.

Another landmark that often intrigues visitors is El Faro a Colón. It is a part of Parque Mirador Del Este and located in central Dominican Republic. Established in 1992, El Faro a Colon was built by a consortium of Latin American States in honor of the founding of the Americas and Christopher Columbus.

Santuario de San Marting de Porres: A pilgrimage sight for the world’s Catholics, El Santuario de San Martin de Porres (Sanctuary of Saint Martin of Porres) is named after and dedicated to the New World’s first black saint. The sanctuary is actually a church made completely from stone; making this shrine a unique experience for all.

The following chart lists some details concerning other kinds of places of interest to vacationers.

Miscellaneous Landmarks In Dominican Republic

Name	Type	Location
Antonio de Montesinos Monument	Monument	Downtown Santo Domingo
Arco del Triunfo	Monument	0.2 mi. East of Central San Juan de la Maguana
Constituents Monument	Monument	San Cristobal, Central Dominican Republic
Cristo Redentor	Monument	2.7 mi. South West of Central Puerto Plata
El Faro a Colón	Monument	Central Dominican Republic
El Homenaje de los Deportes	Monument	Bonao, Central Dominican Republic
El Monumento de la Reina del Mar	Monument	1.5 mi. West-Northwest of Central Monte Cristi
Faro Puerto Plata	Lighthouse	0.9 mi. Northwest of Central Puerto Plata
Faro Punta Pescadero	Lighthouse	Central Dominican Republic
Faro Punta Torrecilla	Lighthouse	Central Dominican Republic
Monumento A Los Héroes De La Restauración	Monument	0.8 mi. Southeast of Central Santiago De Los Caballeros
Monumento El Numero	Monument	Central Dominican Republic
Monumento Hermanas Mirabal	Monument	1.9 mi. Southeast of Central Puerto Plata
Monumento a Francisco Caamano Deno	Monument	6.6 mi. Southeast of Central Constanza
Santuario de San Marting de Porres	Monument	4.7 mi. West of Central Bani

Keep in mind that you can find some other kinds attractions available. To reach our detailed guide to other attractions, click this link.

Where to go in the Dominican Republic?

While you can find landmarks throughout the entire nation of the Dominican Republic, there are really three major areas that history buffs center their facation on. See the links below for more information.

Landmark Hotspots in the Dominican Republic

Destination	Significance
Santo Domingo	As the oldest city in the new world, you can bet that history is a major attraction here. From museums and forts at day, to the massive Faro at nights, there is plenty for a landmark-centric vacationer to do in the city.
Santiago De Los Caballeros	Not nearly as dominating as Santo Domingo, Santiago is an inland city that is known for its forts and tobacco plantations.
Puerto Plata	While it is not known for its history, Puerto Plata has a good number of museums and other landmarks for such a popular tourist area. If you are looking for a vacation in a city smaller than Santo Domingo, but with more amenities than Santiago, then Puerto Plata might be for you.

It is rare that one will see all the attractions that the Dominican Republic has to offer on their trip to the country. Still, you can make the most of your time spent by reviewing the landmarks before hand and making a list of your must-visit attractions. Arrive prepared and you will leave happy.