|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barceló Lina |
|
Máximo Gómez-Esq 27 de Febrero, PO Box 1915
|
|
Santo Domingo
|
|
|
|
|
Dominican Republic
|
|
|
www.barcelolina.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Dominican Republic and Haiti together form the island of Hispaniola, the first land Christopher Columbus set foot on in the New World. |
| The capital, Santo Domingo, was declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1990, in recognition of its numerous colonial monuments. |
| The country, situated in the heart of the Caribbean, has a surface area of 48,442 square kilometers. Visitors will find beautiful, white-sand beaches, distributed along 1,575 kilometers of coastline boasting turquoise-colored waters, lush vegetation, and colorful coral reefs. | |
|
View larger map |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
View Larger Map |
|
| The capital city of Santo Domingo is situated in the south of the Dominican Republic. It was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1990 in recognition of its many historic colonial monuments. |
| Walking down the lively streets of the city, visitors can discover close-up the exotic character of the land and its people. Shoppers will find semiprecious stones (such as amber and larimar), delicious tropical fruits, and handmade cigars. At night, authentic Caribbean rhythms create a unique atmosphere. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Alcázar de Colón. A gothic/Mudejar style palace from which Diego Columbus, son of Christopher, governed as viceroy. |
| Ozama Fortress. First military building in America. |
| Museum of the Casas Reales. The museum contains the only surviving coat of arms of Queen Joan of Castille, wife of Philip the Handsome, among other gems. |
| Faro de Colón (The Columbus Lighthouse). This monumental lighthouse, situated on the other side of the Ozama river, contains the bodily remains of Christopher Columbus. |
| Primada de America Cathedral. Impressive with its solid walls and 3 entrances. 2 of the entrances are gothic, in stark contrast with the main entrance, done in plateresque style. |
| National Pantheon. National heroes, female poets, writers, and other illustrious Dominican personalities are buried in this 18th-century church. |
| El Conde Stree. Only pedestrian street in the city. |
| Modelo Market. Main arts and crafts center in the city. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dominican cuisine is a blend of Spanish and African influences, which have also shaped the social and cultural fabric of the country. |
| The national dish is Sancocho, a stew which combines different meats, vegetables, bananas, yams, and yautias. |
| Other specialties include roast pork, all kinds of fish and shellfish, and a wide variety of tropical fruit. |
| Punta Cana is known for its "dulces criollos" (Creole sweets), delicious pastries made from milk, oranges, coconut, or plums. |
| Bavaro has several Creole and international restaurants, where visitors can sample these and other culinary specialties. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| In the traditional markets (like the Modelo Market), or the markets in Plaza Criolla and on El Conde Street, visitors can find handcrafted objects made from wood, leather, conch shells, clay, amber, and larimar. Other crafts include masks, ceramics, baskets, embroidery work, and cotton fabrics. |
| There are also several shopping centers, such as Plaza Central, Acropolis Mall, Diamond Mall or Bella Vista Mall, where visitors can find national and international brands. |
| El horario de apertura es de 9-10 de la mañana a 7-8 de la tarde. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Time Zone: UTC - 5. |
| Official Currency: Dominican peso (RD$). The U.S. dollar (US$) is also widely accepted. |
| Official Language: Spanish. English is also spoken in many parts of the country. |
| Population:Approximately 8 million inhabitants |
| Health Information: No specific vaccine is obligatory although it is recommended to get vaccinated against tropical diseases. It is also recommended to drink filtered or boiled water, and not to buy food or drink from street vendors. |
| Electricity: 110 V. Plugs have 3 flat prongs. |
| Payment options: Major credit cards and traveler's checks are generally accepted. |
| Banking hours: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|