Alcázar de Colón

Built in the early 1500's by Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus, the castle of Alcazar de Colon has 40-inch-thick coral-limestone walls. The Italian Renaissance-style structure, with its balustrade and double row of arches, has strong Moorish, Gothic, and Isabelline influences. The 22 rooms are furnished in a style to which the viceroy of the island would have been accustomed.

The castle stands as a tribute to explorers and nations who helped settle the New World. Diego Columbus was not only the first resident, but also the city's first governor. After him, the castle went on to greet other famous explorers: Ponce de Leon and Balboa among them. Today, the palace welcomes modern explorers with an array of period artifacts and artwork from the era of Spanish Colonialism. The castle comprises of two rectangular floors, two wings joined by a central corridor and two galleries. In 1770 the building was abandoned. Attempts were made to turn it into a prison, but none were successful. In 1809 and 1835 major landslides collapsed parts of the building, but in 1957, it was restored by stonemasons to its present condition. It is open to the public for tours while there on vacation. Check ahead for pricing. For more information (in Spanish) and photos, click here.

Meliá Santo Domingo Hotel

Sol Meliá is the Spanish hotel and resort chain founded by Gabriel Escarrer Juliá in 1956 in Palma on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca in Spain. It is the leading Spanish hotel chain in both the city and resort markets, the third largest hotel chain in Europe, and the twelfth largest hotel chain in the world. Sol Meliá is also the world leader in resort hotels and number one in the ranking in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Meliá Santo Domingo hotel was designed with the needs of business and leisure travelers in mind. Located in the heart of Santo Domingo and with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea, the hotel has become a popular destination for business people, leisure travelers and even the local residents.

Santa Domingo, a Caribbean Hotspot

Santo Domingo is one of the Caribbean's most vibrant cities, with a 12-block Colonial Zone to rival that of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. Come here to walk in the footsteps of Cortés, Ponce de León, and, of course, Columbus himself. Allow at least a day to capture some of the highlights of the old city such as its Alcazar and its Catedral Santa Maria la Menor.
Santo Domingo is also one of the grand shopping bazaars of the Caribbean, with such "hot" items as hand-wrapped cigars for sale virtually everywhere, along with local handicrafts. Jewelry made of larimar or amber is also much sought after.

A Bit of History:
Bartholomeo Columbus, brother of Christopher, founded the city of New Isabella (later renamed Santo Domingo) on the southeastern Caribbean coast in 1496. It's the oldest city in the New World and the capital of the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo has had a long, sometimes glorious, more often sad, history. At the peak of its power, Diego de Velázquez sailed from here to settle Cuba, Ponce de León went forth to conquer and settle Puerto Rico and Florida, and Cortés set out for Mexico. The city today still reflects its long history -- French, Haitian, and especially Spanish.