On a hill at the east end of the downtown area is Santiago’s most visible and recognizable sight, the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic. This eight-story boxy behemoth was originally built by Trujillo to celebrate Trujillo, but was rededicated after his assassination to honor the Dominican soldiers that fought the final war of independence against Spain. Large bronze statues of the celebrated generals gaze down upon Santiago from the steps.
The site boasts life-sized museum exhibits of Dominican history, and is often visited by large groups of uniformed primary-schoolers (the spire is closed due to safety concerns). Joggers cross train on the steps around dusk.
