Considered the first village in America where Spaniards settled, the Old colonial city is now just a small part of Santo Domingo, but it preserves the primitive design and most of the monuments, that have been restored, are concentrated on the Santo Domingo’s colonial area.

Calle de Las Damas (The escorts street) has always been one of the main paths in Santo Domingo. The escorts of viceroy Maria Toledo walked this street at the beginning of the 16th century, when the Spanish governor of the island, Nicolás de Ovando, was building the city following the suggestions coming from Spain. Like this monument full of history, we find many others in Calle de Las Damas: the Casas Reales (Royal Houses) building, which is a museum today, keeps important documents related with the Spanish colonial life of the 15th and 16th centuries. Torre del Homenaje (Homage Tower) is beside and it is outstanding because it is the only medieval tower found in the Americas and, therefore, one of the favorite visits of historians. We go on in the mythical Calle de Las Damas to visit this time the Panteón Nacional (National Pantheon), which is in front of Ovando´s former house. The Panteón, built in 1793, was at the time the Jesus´s Company Church. The governor´s former house is today a hotel where cultural activities are frequently carried out. The Cathedral was built near Calle de Las Damas and the Alcázar, although its construction was complicated, because the workers left looking for the wealth they were promised in the new colonies. For this reason, and although the first stone was placed by Diego de Colón in 1514, the work did not end until 1540, thanks to Bishop de Geraldini. In the newspapers found, one can read the testimony of those who saw the cultural and historical transformation that Santo Domingo was undergoing.

THE OTHER FACE There is a more enrooted culture that accompanies the Dominicans: rhythm, merengue and joy. Through the Cathedral Square and Calle de El Conde (The Count street) the most genuine Dominican colors and essence are disseminated. It is the area of markets, cafes, bustle and traffic, where the city beat is concentrated, where the Spanish presence in some details is felt. Calle Conde de Peñalva (Count of Peñalva street) was called that way in memory of the Hispaniola governor, who prevented the British from conquering the city. And in order to see the genuine face of Santo Domingo, it is worth of going to Mercado Modelo.