Alc谩zar de Col贸n (Columbus Alcazar), Santo Domingo (must see)
The Columbus Alcazar is a historically significant and awe-inspiring edifice located in Santo Domingo. As the oldest Viceregal residence in the Americas, it holds a prestigious place within the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Columbus Alcazar houses the Alcazar Museum of Diego Col贸n, which boasts an exceptional collection of European late medieval and Renaissance works of art. Acquired in the 1950s, these art pieces represent the most important ensemble of their kind in the Caribbean region. Among the notable exhibits is a Tapestry collection that spans the 15th to 17th centuries, making it particularly unique and significant in the Caribbean. This collection includes remarkable pieces produced by the renowned Flemish Van Den Hecke family, using cartouches created by Charles Le Brun. As a result, the museum attracts a considerable number of visitors and stands as the most visited museum in Santo Domingo.
The palace itself is a stunning architectural marvel, constructed with coralline blocks. In its heyday, it boasted around fifty rooms, gardens, and courtyards, creating a grand and opulent atmosphere befitting a Viceregal residence. However, today, only about half of its original size remains due to the passage of time and historical events. The Alc谩zar de Col贸n was built during the early 16th century, between 1510 and 1512, under the orders of Diego Col贸n, the son of Christopher Columbus. At the time, Diego Col贸n served as the Viceroy of La Espa帽ola and the Indies, and he envisioned the mansion as both a family home and a governor's mansion.
Throughout the Spanish colonial period, the Columbus Alcazar held immense importance in history. It served as a crucial center for planning expeditions of conquest and exploration, shaping the course of early exploration and colonization in the region.
Editor's note: The Alcazar Museum is temporarily closed.
The Columbus Alcazar houses the Alcazar Museum of Diego Col贸n, which boasts an exceptional collection of European late medieval and Renaissance works of art. Acquired in the 1950s, these art pieces represent the most important ensemble of their kind in the Caribbean region. Among the notable exhibits is a Tapestry collection that spans the 15th to 17th centuries, making it particularly unique and significant in the Caribbean. This collection includes remarkable pieces produced by the renowned Flemish Van Den Hecke family, using cartouches created by Charles Le Brun. As a result, the museum attracts a considerable number of visitors and stands as the most visited museum in Santo Domingo.
The palace itself is a stunning architectural marvel, constructed with coralline blocks. In its heyday, it boasted around fifty rooms, gardens, and courtyards, creating a grand and opulent atmosphere befitting a Viceregal residence. However, today, only about half of its original size remains due to the passage of time and historical events. The Alc谩zar de Col贸n was built during the early 16th century, between 1510 and 1512, under the orders of Diego Col贸n, the son of Christopher Columbus. At the time, Diego Col贸n served as the Viceroy of La Espa帽ola and the Indies, and he envisioned the mansion as both a family home and a governor's mansion.
Throughout the Spanish colonial period, the Columbus Alcazar held immense importance in history. It served as a crucial center for planning expeditions of conquest and exploration, shaping the course of early exploration and colonization in the region.
Editor's note: The Alcazar Museum is temporarily closed.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Santo Domingo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Alc谩zar de Col贸n (Columbus Alcazar) on Map
Sight Name: Alc谩zar de Col贸n (Columbus Alcazar)
Sight Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (See walking tours in Santo Domingo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (See walking tours in Santo Domingo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Create Your Own Walk in Santo Domingo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Santo Domingo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Colonial Architecture Tour
As the vanguard of European advance to the West, Santo Domingo burgeoned into the first seat of the Spanish colonial administration. The city's colonial architecture is a significant aspect of its identity, featuring a blend of styles that evolved over time, influenced by indigenous, African, Spanish, and other European cultures.
The heart of Santo Domingo's colonial architecture is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
The heart of Santo Domingo's colonial architecture is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Santo Domingo Introduction Walking Tour
The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, or simply "La Capital" as the locals commonly refer to it, holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas.
Founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher Columbus's younger brother, it was originally called "La Nueva Isabela", but was soon renamed Santo... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher Columbus's younger brother, it was originally called "La Nueva Isabela", but was soon renamed Santo... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles