Santo Domingo & the Zona Colonial
Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial is where the modern Americas began. Founded in 1498, it is the oldest permanent European city in the New World, a UNESCO World Heritage district of cobbled streets, coral-stone palaces and a string of "firsts" that shaped a hemisphere. Here stand the first cathedral, the first paved street in Calle Las Damas, and the Alcazar de Colon, the palace built for Christopher Columbus's son Diego.
Walking these atmospheric lanes is a journey to the very roots of the Americas. Leafy plazas open between the colonial mansions, ruined monasteries lean against the sky, and every corner seems to carry five centuries of history. With a guide to read the stones and the timing set for the cooler hours, an unhurried morning here becomes the cultural heart of a Dominican trip.
By night the Zona comes alive. Merengue and bachata spill from the bars, the rum flows, cigars are lit, and the warmth of Dominican life fills the squares. It is a rich cultural counterpoint to the beaches, and the easiest way to give a Punta Cana stay a little more depth.
