Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LA VEGA
POP 248,000
Pressed hard up against the highway halfway between Santo Domingo and Santiago, La
Vega is known primarily as a transportation hub and the site of the country's most boister-
ous Carnival celebrations. And while in most respects it's a lackluster town - dusty and
noisy during the day - La Vega's origin story is an interesting one. In the 1490s, Christoph-
er Columbus himself ordered a fort built in the area to store gold mined nearby. Over the
next 50 years, the first mint in the New World was established, the nation's first commer-
cial sugar crop was harvested, and the first royally sanctioned brothel in the western hemi-
sphere opened its doors for business in La Vega. But this prosperity came to an abrupt end
in 1562, when an earthquake leveled the city. The damage was so severe that the city was
moved several kilometers to its present site on the banks of the Río Camú. You can visit
what remains of the old city near the town of Santo Cerro.
Sights & Activities
Santo Cerro
Legend has it that Columbus placed a cross he received as a bon-voyage gift from Queen
Isabella atop this hill, which commands fantastic sweeping views of the Valle del Cibao.
During a battle between Spaniards and Taínos, the latter tried to burn the cross but it
wouldn't catch fire. The Virgen de las Mercedes appeared on one of its arms and the Taínos
are said to have fled in terror.
Today the cross is gone - supposedly in private hands - but you can still see the Santo
Hoyo (Holy Hole) in which the cross was allegedly planted. The hole is inside the Iglesia
Las Mercedes , covered with a small wire grill and tended by nuns and Jesuit priests. The
beige-and-white church, with its red-tile roof, is a major pilgrimage site, drawing thousands
of believers every September 24 for its patron-saint day. Be sure to look for a fenced-off
tree near the steps leading to the church - it is said to have been planted in 1495.
Santo Cerro is northeast of La Vega, several kilometers east of Highway Duarte, up a
steep winding road. It's somewhat confusing to find your way leaving the city, so ask for
directions.
CHURCH
La Vega Vieja
HISTORICAL SITE
Search WWH ::




Custom Search