Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(cnr Sánchez & Arzobispo Nouel; varies)
Since 1596 this church has served as a hospital, a
jail and an inn, but is now famous for its carved-mahogany figure of Jesus, which is wor-
shipped every Holy Wednesday during Easter Week. The small church, originally made of
stone, was set aflame by Drake in 1586 and was rebuilt using bricks. During colonial
times its small square was used to stage comedies.
Iglesia de San Miguel
(Church of Michael the Archangel; cnr José Reyes & Juan Isidro Pérez; varies)
In 1784 Spain
ordered that the Iglesia de San Miguel be turned into a hospital for slaves. The decree,
however, was never followed. Note the appealing juxtaposition of its rectangular stone
doorway with the curved shape of the structure's exterior.
CHURCH
Capilla de la Tercera Orden Dominica
(Chapel of the Third Dominican Order; cnr Calle Duarte & Padre Billini)
Built in 1729 and the only
colonial structure in Santo Domingo that remains fully intact. These days the building is
used by the office of the archbishop of Santo Domingo. It's not open to the general public,
but the graceful baroque facade is worth a look.
CHURCH
Historical Sites
Parque Colón
(cnr Calle El Conde & Isabel la Católica)
Beside the Catedral Primada de América, this historic
park contains several shade trees and a large statue of Admiral Columbus himself. It's the
meeting place for local residents and is alive with tourists, townsfolk, hawkers, guides,
taxi drivers, shoeshine boys, tourist police and thousands of pigeons. El Conde Restaurant
(
Click here
)
, at the corner of Calle El Conde and Arzobispo Meriño, has seating inside
and out and is the premier people-watching corner in the Zona Colonial.
PARK
Plaza España
MAP
PLAZA
GOOGLE MAP
The large, open area in front of the Alcázar de Colón has been made over many times,
most recently during the early 1990s in honor of the 500th anniversary of Christopher
Columbus' 'discovery' of the New World. Running along its northwest side is
Calle la
Atarazana
, fronted by a half dozen restaurants in buildings that served as warehouses
