Quiet and calm, Santiago city is located in the Dominican Republic. This is the second capital of the country. Here visitors can relax from the bustle and noise of big cities, enjoy that calm feeling that only nature can bring and the atmosphere of solitude.
The city of Knights, Santiago, was founded by Bartolomeo Columbus in 1494. He appeared in these lands together with 30 Knights of the Holy Santiago Order. The city is also famous for producing high quality tobacco, good coffee, national rum and the birth of the famous dance of the Dominican Republic called "merengue". Besides the fact that Santiago is a well-developed industrial region, you will find here a large number of parks, gardens, beautiful green areas with lush vegetation, as well as numerous historic attractions.
Eduard Leon Jimenez cultural center runs in the city. This museum is considered one of the largest and multidirectional. Visitors can appreciate its collection of unique anthropological artifacts discovered in various parts of the Dominican Republic. The age of some archaeological finds is more than 5000 years. Besides, the museum has a great collection of works of art and ethnographic exhibits.
La Habanera Tabacalera old cigar factory is a no less interesting sight. It has been operating steadily for over a century. It'll be of interest even to those who are not attracted to tobacco. They hold really exciting excursions there. Visitors can watch the process of cigar production. There is also an excellent specialized store on the territory of the factory.
The Museum of Folk Art of Thomas Morel is worth a visit, as well. It presents a collection of exhibits relating to colonial times. One of the most valuable is a collection of carnival masks. Yet, they've carefully preserved household items and even homes of the first Spanish settlers. A significant part of the museum's exposition is dedicated to the culture and traditions of the indigenous inhabitants of the Dominican Republic.
Beautiful Duarte Park is a special sightseeing facility. You can take a walk or take a horse-drawn carriage through the park. This ancient place is famous for its natural beauty. It is ideal for relaxing in private surroundings. They often hold leisure activities there.
Nearby, is the Apostle Santiago Cathedral, built in the 19th century. Many unique finishing elements survived in the cathedral. Visitors can admire skillful ornaments in mahogany, incredibly beautiful stained-glass windows, and fine carving. The cathedral and the park are of great importance to the local residents. They often come here to have rest from the city fuss. In the southern part of the park is located The Tobacco Museum, which will introduce visitors with one of the main national crafts - the cultivation of tobacco plantations and the production of cigars.
Sightseeing in Dominican Republic: things to see
Aguas Blancas Waterfall and Juan Dolio Beach are usually mentioned in the list of most important nature sights of the country, and Bahoruco coast is famous for its rich deposits of turquoise. It’s possible to find the blue stones during a simple walk on the beach. Locals use turquoise to make interesting souvenirs and amulets. Finally, the villages of Playa Macao and Punta Kana attract visitors with their large coconut palm groves. The groves are hardly penetrable, but sometimes they are crossed by bays and lagoons.
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