Santo Domingo ? The Capital City of the Dominican Republic - Travel - Destinations

It was Bartholomew Columbus who was the younger brother of Christopher Columbus who founded the city of Santo Domingo in the year 1496. It remains the oldest European settlement that has been inhabited continuously. Presently, it is the capital of the Dominican Republic. The city lost the name of Santo Domingo when the brutal dictator who ruled the country from 1930 to 1961 changed its name to Ciudad Trujillo, after his own name of Rafael Trujillo. However, after his death the name was restored. Presently it is the biggest city in the country. Its population in 2010 was found at 3,294,305. Also, when population is considered it is the biggest city in the Caribbean today.

Situated on the banks of River Ozama on the Caribbean Sea it has a tropical climate but its temperature stays only moderate with the highest experienced during July and August not exceeding 93Farenheit. This is mainly because the trade winds that blow across the city. Average rainfall of the city is 56.9 inches. The months that SantoDomingo gets the lowest rainfall are January to April.

When it comes to economic activity, Santo Domingo is the main economic hub of the country. There is good infra structure in the city that supports the current economic growth. The telecommunications sector is currently one of the country's most advanced industries. One of the biggest complaints is the country's ongoing issues with power outages. While most businesses and all locals have adapted to the faulty power grid, most foreigners find the power issues a nuisance. Inspite of the downfalls of the power infrastructure, many companies both national and international have their head quarters in Santo Domingo.

This city is also a good educational center with 18 Universities. The oldest University in the New World, called the Universidad Autnoma de Santo Domingo and established in 1538, is located in this largest city of the country. It is the only public University in the city and has contributed a lot to the education of common Dominicans. SantoDomingo is also home to the first cathedral in the Americas. The Colonial zone, which is also located in Santo Domingo, has a lot of 15th and 16th century buildings. These buildings are perfect examples of architecture of that time and can be compared to the architecture of buildings in Europe built during the same time. The area offers a number of museums also for one to visit. If you are a tourist there are lots of attractions in Santo Domingo. The city offers many parks and other places of visit. It also offers plenty of restaurants and hotels. There are many festivals to enjoy in the city as well. In case you want to buy souvenirs the best place is the Colonial zone.

All in all, SantoDomingo is a good city to visit. While you are there you can enjoy sun, sightseeing and good food. Also if you want to spend a little longer vacation, you could learn Spanish by enrolling in one of the many language schools.

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