| Registration Classification | cultural heritage |
| Registration Criteria | (2), (4), (6) |
| Year of registration | 1990 |
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, was the first stronghold of the Americas, founded by the Spanish after Christopher Columbus arrived on the island in 1498. The city has a cathedral, hospital, and university, and was the model for most of the colonial cities scattered throughout the Americas.
Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Colonial City of Santo Domingo is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Colonial City of Santo Domingo!
What is the colonial city of Santo Domingo?
The West Indies was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492, who built a colonial city on the southern coast of present-day Hispaniola in 1498. Located at the mouth of the Ozama River, the city was originally begun by the Spanish in 1496 on the east side of the river, but in 1502 the city’s functions were shifted to the west side of the river. The construction of this town was the beginning of the colonization of the Americas.
It was the first colonial city in the Americas and served as a Spanish stronghold; the Hospital of San Nicolas de Bari, built in the early 16th century, was the first hospital in the Americas. The Catedral Santa Maria la Menor, where Columbus was buried, was built in 1541 and combined Gothic and Renaissance styles.
The city was so well planned that it served as a model for fortified cities, and is known for having some of the oldest streets dating back to 1502. The buildings in which the city was founded and other structures are still beautifully intact today.
Major Registered Components
Columbus Palace（Alcázar de Colón）
Columbus’ eldest son, Diego Colon, began construction of the mansion in 1509.Construction continued until 1514, and it was once a Mudéjar-style structure with more than 50 rooms and a magnificent garden. It was then inhabited by the descendants of Columbus. Today, the museum is famous for its collection of tapestries.
Catedral Santa Maria la Menor
The first Catholic cathedral in the Americas, built in 1541. It combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. Columbus died in Spain and was kept in a monastery in Seville, but was moved to the cathedral in Santo Domingo in 1542; although the coffin was moved to the Columbus Memorial Lighthouse in 1992, it has long been famous as the place where Columbus is buried.
Hospital of San Nicolas de Bari
The first hospital in the Americas, opened in 1522, the hospital closed in the mid-18th century and is no longer in use, but was once a magnificent Renaissance-style structure.
For what reason is the colonial city of Santo Domingo on the World Heritage List?
The colonial city of Santo Domingo was recognized for
Registration Criteria (ii)
That Santo Domingo has had a strong influence as a model for colonial cities in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Registration Criteria (iv)
The first urban structures of Santo Domingo still exist today, which means that the 16th century architecture shows a transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style.
Registration Criteria (vi)
That Santo Domingo was also a center of Christian conduction and the place where the Indias Law (the law governing the behavior of indigenous peoples) was proclaimed.
World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments
Columbus’ arrival in the Americas is valued in that the first colonial city was built here, which became the model for other colonial cities. And it is also important to note that despite its location far from Europe, the buildings also show a transitional period from the Gothic to the Renaissance style. And since the first cathedral in the Americas was built, this place also became a base for the conduction of Christianity in the New World.
Incidentally, Columbus is known for being the first European to discover the Americas, but he is also a rather underrated figure in modern times, since the sea route from Europe to North America was already discovered by the Vikings in the 10th century, and it was under his leadership that many indigenous people were massacred. However, it is amazing just to know that the earth is round due to the discovery of the sea route to the West Indies….
*The contents here are considerations derived through research by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the medium.
