The Oldest European Built City in the Americas in Photos (2010, home)

[Kaskada]

I thought it would be nice to share some pictures from one of the most historic cities in the Americas, Santo Domingo. Here are some surprising facts about this Caribbean metropolis:

• Founded in 1498 by Christopher Columbus' brother Bartholomew, that makes Santo Domingo the first and oldest European-built city in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, Santo Domingo is older than Lisbon in Portugal!
• The city was the center of the Spanish Empire for the first 50 years, during that time received important structures like the First Catholic Cathedral of the New World, the Palace of Christopher Columbus, the first court of law of the New World, the first fort of the New World, the first paved street of the New World and many other superlatives.
• Despite being so historic, the Colonial Zone only comprises 1% of the modern metropolis.
• Today its the largest city in the Caribbean with over 3 million people, has the largest middle class and upper class in the region as well, and is one of the fastest growing and dynamic economies in the region.
• The city is home to people from many nationalities. In fact, the city just recently inaugurated a Chinatown, and there are many social clubs that are geared towards people of different nationalities like the Syrian-Palestinian-Lebanese Club, to give one example.
• The Dominican Republic has the sixth largest population of American citizens outside of the U.S. and most of these live in Santo Domingo.
• This being Latin America, there are some very sharp disparities in income and lifestyles, however the photos in my following post are indicative of what 60 to 70% of the city looks like. Ramshackle slums cover 10% of the city area, while the remaining 20% are poor neighbhorhoods with rundown buildings, but still enough amenities like paved roads, electricity, etc. to not be considered a real slum.
• The city has the newest Metro/Subway in the world. It was inaugurated this past May and will be in full operation by the end of the year.
• The world renown Mercer research and consulting firm recently ranked Santo Domingo as the safest city in Latin America.
• The city is home to one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, to the largest zoological park in Latin America, the largest aquarium in the Caribbean, the largest lighthouse/mausoleum in the world, the tallest skyscraper in the Caribbean, and the National Theater which was the largest theater in the world at the time of its inauguration in the 1970s.
• The city also counts with its own symphonic orchestra.

Enjoy!

[Kaskada]

[Kaskada]

[Kaskada]

[Kaskada]

[Kaskada]

These photos were taken by Orad and with permission are being shared here.

Santo Domingo is the second city, after San Juan in Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean to acquire a new Metro mass transit system. The first line is now in its finishing touches as far as construction is concerned and construction for the second line with start early next year. This Metro is the newest and most modern in the world.

[SuperMario]

Thanks for these wonderful photos!

It's a damn shame nobody commented on this thread. Santo Domingo is one of the most beautiful historic cities in the world.

Gracias

[Georgiafrog]

Looks beautiful! Love to see it with these eyes. Perhaps someday....

[Mooseketeer]

Lisbon was founded by the Phoenicians roughly in roughly 1200 BC as far as I know so how does that make Santo Domingo older ?!

Nice photos though.

[ihynes]

Thank you for posting these photos. I am sorry to say I never heard of Santo Domingo before, but now I will know of it as a beautiful place worth visiting.