Surrounded by the town's most popular restaurants, galleries and museums, Plaza España has been a center of civic life for locals and visitors alike since the 1500s. As the tropical sun sets, you'll find them gathering to recount the day's events and enjoy lively performances of music and dance. With the Ozama River as its Instagram-perfect backdrop, the grand square is fronted by the popular Calle la Atarazana. Browse eclectic shops and savor al fresco dining at the strip of colonial-era structures. Plaza España is also home to the Alcázar de Colón, a centuries-old palace that was once the residence of Christopher Columbus' son Diego. Inside, discover life from another era with art and artifacts that recreate the daily experience of the 16th-century elite.
South of Plaza España, you can take a break from the often unforgiving sun on a tree-shaded bench at Parque Colon. Behold the Catedral Santa Maria de la Encarnacion, one of the first cathedrals of the New World. It's mistakenly thought to be the oldest, and locally known as the Catedral Primada de América, but a church in Mexico City was built before Santa Maria's completion in 1540. Decades of construction and different architects account for its unique mix of Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque styles. While you'll encounter period paintings and sculptures inside, they're not original - the infamous pirate Francis Drake and his swashbuckling crew looted the place in 1586.
Once the city's main commercial thoroughfare, the ten-block cobblestone pedestrian strip still offers a worthwhile shopping and strolling experience. Or relax on a bench and watch the scene, with vendors hawking goods at open-air stalls and crowds of Dominicans milling through their daily routines. You'll pass a host of restaurants, shops and cafes that cater to locals as you walk the run from Parque Colón to Parque Independencia, a small tree-shaded plaza with monuments that's also home to the Puerta del Conde, a colonial gateway that was once the western entrance to the walled city.
Enjoy a trio of adjacent parks along Calle Padre Billini. Parque Duarte is the most popular, welcoming lots of locals who converge to listen to music and socialize. With a decidedly bohemian vibe, the park is a hub for musicians, artists and the LGBT community. Evenings often turn into a party scene with drinking and dancing. Adjoining Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Park is a small walled plaza with greenery and a statue depicting its namesake colonial friar that often sees local artisans selling their wares. Padre Billini Square is bounded by 16th-century structures that include the House of Garay and Casa de Tostado, one of the first colonial homes in the Dominican Republic.
Running parallel to the Ozama River, Calle Las Damas is the first paved street in the Americas and named for the well-heeled women who would enjoy evening strolls there in the 16th century. Today, you'll find upscale homes and boutique hotels mixed in with colonial structures that include Fortaleza Ozama. Built to repel invaders from the Caribbean Sea, the grand fortification that dates to the early 1500s has battlements that offer 360-degree views of the city. Continue along the ancient byway to visit the National Pantheon, an 18th-century neoclassical gem in renaissance style.
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