Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Casa del Cordón
(House of the Cord; cnr Isabel la Católica & Emiliano Tejera; 8:15am-4pm)
Said to be not only one
of the first European residences in the Americas, but also one of the first residences in the
Western hemisphere with two floors, this was briefly occupied by Diego Columbus and
his wife before they moved into their stately home down the street. Today the structure is
home to Banco Popular, so visiting the house beyond the main lobby is not permitted.
Named after its impressive stone facade, which is adorned with the chiseled sash-and-
cord symbol of the Franciscan order, it is also believed to be the site where Santo
Domingo's women lined up to hand over their jewels to Drake during the month he and
his men held the city hostage.
NOTABLE BUILDING
Casa de Francia
MAP
NOTABLE BUILDING
GOOGLE MAP
(French House; Las Damas 42)
This was originally the residence of Hernán Cortés, conqueror
of the Aztecs in present-day central Mexico. It was in this building that Cortés is believed
to have organized his triumphant - and brutal - expedition. Although the Casa de Francia
served as a residence for nearly three centuries, it has had several incarnations since the
beginning of the 19th century: a set of government offices, the Banco Nacional de Santo
Domingo, a civil courthouse and the headquarters of the Dominican IRS. Today it houses
the French embassy. While visitors are not permitted past the lobby, this marvel of ma-
sonry is worth a walk by, if only to check out its facade.
Built in the early 16th century and sharing many elements with the Museo de las Casas
Reales, experts theorize that these buildings were designed by the same master; both have
a flat facade and a double bay window in the upper and lower stories, repeating patterns of
doors and windows on both floors, and top-notch stone rubblework masonry around the
windows, doors and corner shorings.
Hostal Nicolás de Ovando
(Las Damas)
A handsome building with a Gothic facade built in 1509, this was originally
the residence of Governor Nicolás de Ovando, who is famous for ordering Santo
Domingo rebuilt on the west bank of the Río Ozama following a hurricane that leveled
most of the colony. Today it houses the posh Hostal Nicolás de Ovando (
Click here
)
. To
NOTABLE BUILDING
