National Palace

The city of Santo Domingo is one of the oldest in the Caribbean, however the National Palace isn’t a colonial-era structure. Instead it harkens to a different, more recent period of the Dominican Republics history. The National Palace was built in the 1940s during the reign of the DR’s famously brutal dictator Rafael Trujillo. The National Palace is still in use as the seat of the DR’s government and the offices of the president, so it is not generally open to the public. However, visitors can explore the outside and take photos of the building’s impressive architecture. 

Practical Info

The National Palace is a feature of modern Santo Domingo, and so is not found within the Colonial Zone where most visitors spend their time. However, it’s only a 10-minute drive west of the Colonial Zone, and easily reached by taxi.