A place of many firsts, the Zona Colonial aka Ciudad Colonial or simply “La Zona”, is home to the first paved street, hospital, university, and cathedral in the Americas. Indeed, Santo Domingo was the first settlement of the Spanish in the Americas and they used it as a hub from which they spread out to other countries in the region.
Today, La Zona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination, with many bars, restaurants, shops, museums, parks, and hotels in colonial-era structures. People can drive through, walk, or take the little train tour called ChuChu Colonial.
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Along Calle Las Damas, the New World’s first paved street, you can visit Fortaleza Ozama which is adjacent to the Ozama river. The Fortaleza was built in the early 16th century by the Spanish and was their first military construction in the Americas.
As you continue down the street, you will find the Panteon Nacional, originally a Jesuit church built from 1714 to 1746, where the remains of the Dominican Republic’s most honored and famous citizens are kept.
Finally, at the end of Calle Las Damas, is Alcazar de Colon, Diego Colon’s (Christopher Columbus’1st son) residence in the 16th century. The Alcazar is now a museum with period weapons, armor, furniture, and art which gives the viewer a feel for how the place might have looked when it was inhabited by the Colon family.
Other historical buildings in La Zona include the Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor, the oldest cathedral in the Americas. The cathedral’s construction was completed in 1550 in Gothic style and still holds services today. Pay close attention to the gates that close off the cathedral from the street and you will see faces cast in metal, an intriguing detail.
Another fascinating architectural detail is the gargoyles on the facade of the Casa de Gargolas (House of the Gargoyles).
The Casa del Sacramento also boasts beautiful architecture and stone gargoyles can be found along the street that borders the building.
Architecture enthusiasts, history fanatics, photographers, Instagrammers, and globetrotters alike will marvel at all the beauty the Ciudad Colonial has to offer. Plus, with all the activities that are available, there is something for everyone.
