Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
questions. Of course, the
raison d'etre
of the tour is the soft-sell pitch to buy the gallery's
own proprietary cigar brand, as well as jewelry and other gifts in the ground-floor shop.
Fuerte de San Felipe
(San Felipe Fort; admission RD$100; 9am-5pm Sun-Fri)
Located right on the bay, at the west-
ern end of the Malecón, the fort is the only remnant of Puerto Plata's early colonial days.
Built in the mid-16th century to prevent pirates from seizing one of the only protected
bays on the entire north coast, San Felipe never saw any action. For much of its life its
massive walls and interior moat were used as a prison.
Included in the price of admission is an audio tour (English, French, German and Span-
ish); however, it's disappointingly thin in terms of historical breadth and depth. There are
short explanations of the objects displayed in the small museum - a few rusty handcuffs, a
handful of bayonets and a stack of cannonballs. The views of the bay are impressive,
though, and a large grassy area in front of the fort makes for a restful stop.
Also at the fort is Puerto Plata's
lighthouse
, which first lit up on September 9, 1879, and
was restored in 2000. The white-and-yellow tower - 24.4m tall, 6.2m in diameter - is a
melding of neoclassical style with industrial construction.
HISTORICAL SITE
Iglesia San Felipe
(Parque Central, Calle Duarte; 8am-noon & 2-4pm Mon-Sat, 7am-8pm Sun)
This twin-steepled
church has been completely renovated since Hurricane George devastated the town in
1988. Check out the small but beautiful Italian stained-glass windows donated by local
families during the renovation. It's on the southern side of the refurbished Parque Central,
which is distinguished by a large gazebo in the center.
CHURCH
Malecón
The completely paved Malecón (also known as Av General Luperón and Av Circunvala-
ción Norte) runs along the shore. There are a handful of restaurants, as well as a half-
dozen beachside shacks selling food and drinks on
Long Beach
, the main city beach around
2km east of downtown. A few experienced kitesurfers launch themselves into the waves
here on windy days.
STREET
Casa de la Cultura
CULTURAL CENTER
