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Casa del Arte
This small gallery displays Dominican painting, photography and sculpture. Some nights of the week a film club meets to screen arthouse and good-quality Hollywood flicks (free admission). There’s sometimes live music (from RD$100) and, on Saturdays, live theater (RD$100).
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Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
The Gothic-style chapel was built during the 16th century by alderman Francisco de Avila and was intended to be a private chapel and family mausoleum. Early residents of the city are said to have attended Mass here under its barrel-vaulted ceiling. It was restored in 1884.
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Las Damas
Heading north and south in front of Fortaleza Ozama is the first paved street in the Americas. Laid in 1502, the street acquired its name from the wife of Diego Columbus and her lady friends, who made a habit of strolling the road every afternoon, weather permitting.
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Plaza de la Cultura
This large, centrally located park, mostly a sun-baked, fairly unkempt plaza, has three museums (two of which are worth visiting), the national theater and the national library. The land was once owned by the dictator Trujillo, and was ‘donated’ to the public after his assassinatio
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Museo del Ron y la Caña
Housed in a restored 16th-century building, exhibits here celebrate rum and sugar cane, two of the country’s most important exports. Displays and photographs explain the history of their production and importance to the DR’s economy. Of course, you can sample the wares at the small
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Parque Nacional Jaragua
This park is the largest protected area in the country. Its 1400 sq km include vast ranges of thorn forest and subtropical dry forest and an extensive marine area that spans most of the southern coastline, including Laguna Oviedo, Bahía de Las Águilas, and the islands of Isla Beata
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Playa Encuentro
Four kilometers west of town. The place to go for surfing, though top windsurfers and kitesurfers sometimes come to take advantage of the larger waves. The beach itself is a long, narrow stretch of sand backed by lush tropical vegetation; strong tides and rocky shallows make swimmi
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Fortaleza San Luis
Built in the late 17th century, the Fortaleza San Luis operated as a military stronghold until the 1970s, when it was converted into a prison. Today it houses a small museum, with an emphasis on Dominican military history, including ancient rusty weapons and a collection of 20th-ce
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Iglesia de Santa Clara
Home to the first nunnery in the New World built in 1552. Years after being sacked by Drake and his men (who apparently hated all things Catholic), it was rebuilt with funds from the Spanish Crown. This simple, discreet church has a severe Renaissance-style portal with a gable cont
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Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
This museum includes exhibits on the battles between Haitians and Dominicans; on General Ulises Heureaux, the country’s most prominent dictator during the 19th century; and on Trujillo, the country’s most prominent dictator during the 20th century – displays include his personal ef
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Iglesia de la Regina Angelorum
Paid for by a woman who donated her entire fortune to construct this monument for the cloistered Dominican Sisters, this church was built toward the end of the 16th century. In addition to its imposing facade, the church is known for its elaborate 18th-century baroque altar, which
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Iglesia de San Lázaro
Completed in 1650, but altered several times since, this church was erected beside a hospital that treated people with infectious diseases. The church was constructed to give the patients hope – a commodity that no doubt was in short supply for patients with tuberculosis, leprosy a
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Iglesia San Felipe
This twin-steepled church has been completely renovated since Hurricane George devastated the town in 1988. Check out the small but beautiful Italian stained-glass windows donated by local families during the renovation. It’s on the southern side of the refurbished Parque Central,
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Palacio Consistorial
On the west side of Parque Duarte you’ll find the former town hall and a small museum devoted to the city’s colorful history. If you’re here during Carnival, don’t miss the huge and stunning display of masks and fichas (posters), part of a yearly competition that draws entries from
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Reservo Cientifica Ebano Verde
Look for the entrance to this 23-sq-km reserve on the road from Santiago. If time is limited, there’s an easy 2km-long nature trail through tropical forest where you might spot Dominican magnolias, the Green Ebony tree and bird life like red-tailed hawks. A more difficult 6km path
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Piedras Letradas
Meaning ‘Inscribed Stone,’ Piedras Letradas is a shallow cave containing scores of Taíno petroglyphs and pictograms, mostly depicting animals and simplistic human-like figures. The site is a good 30km northwest of Constanza via the town of La Culeta. The road to La Culeta is paved,
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Catedral de la Concepción
La Vega’s infamous cathedral is a fascinating eyesore that looks like a cross between a medieval fortress and a coal plant. It is an odd mixture of Gothic and neoindustrial styles, though the large, contemporary interior is easier on the eyes. The cathedral faces the main plaza, wh
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Playa Bayahibe
Much of Playa Bayahibe, the town beach to the right of the parking lot, is occupied by dozens of motorboats waiting to ferry tourists to Isla Saona. There’s a relatively small, uninviting and narrow stretch of sand between the last of these and the start of the all-inclusive Dreams
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Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Since 1596 this church has served as a hospital, a jail and an inn, but is now famous for its carved-mahogany figure of Jesus, which is worshipped every Holy Wednesday during Easter Week. The small church, originally made of stone, was set aflame by Drake in 1586 and was rebuilt us
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Museo del Ambar Dominicano
The colonial-era building houses a collection of amber exhibits. These exhibits include valuable pieces with such rare inclusions as a small lizard and a 30cm-long feather (the longest one found to date). Tours are offered in English and Spanish. A gift shop on the ground floor has
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