The Dominican Republic is a beautiful place to visit. There are so many rich cultural experiences to try, not to mention stunning natural landscapes and beautiful white sand beaches. The Dominican Republic is certainly one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean, but did you know that it’s also the oldest? In honor of the upcoming national holiday Restoration Day, we’ve compiled five facts about the Dominican Republic that you may not know.
1: The Dominican Republic is the oldest country in the Americas, and Santo Domingo, its capital, and largest city, is the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere. Christopher Columbus colonized the island 1492, and Santo Domingo was founded shortly afterward in 1496.
2: Santo Domingo is also home to the first university, hospital, cathedral and monastery in the Americas. The oldest cathedral, aptly named the Catedral Primada de América, is believed to house the ashes of explorer Christopher Columbus and his son Diego, who laid the first stone of the impressive building in 1514. Explore all of these important cultural landmarks, as well as the rest of this UNESCO World Heritage site, on a private guided tour during a historic excursion from Casa de Campo Resort.
3: The Dominican Republic has the largest economy in the Caribbean, and is the second largest Caribbean nation, after Cuba. Traditional exports were sugar, gold, silver, and coffee. La Romana, home to Casa de Campo Resort, was actually founded as an industrial town. Today sights such as Altos de Chavón, accolades such as the best golf course in the Caribbean, and of course, local resorts, support the tourism and service industry – now one of the more prominent sectors of the Dominican Republic.
4: Baseball and fishing are the most popular sports in the Dominican Republic. Over 450 players currently active in Major League Baseball are from the Dominican Republic. Sport fishing is so popular that multiple tournaments – including the Casa de Campo International Blue Marlin Classic – are held each year for big game fish such as marlin and swordfish.
5: The Dominican Republic fought hard for its independence, and had to earn it more than once. In 1821 the entire island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, declared independence from Spain. Two decades later, the Dominican Republic sought independence from Haiti in the Dominican War of Independence. The second stint of independence was difficult for the island nation, and it fell back under Spanish rule. In the Dominican War of Restoration in 1865, the Dominican Republic fought for its independence and achieved it once and for all.
Rich history. Remarkable cultural experiences. Beautiful natural surroundings. Delicious cuisine. There’s no shortage of things to discover during your vacation in the Dominican Republic! Start planning your Casa de Campo vacation today.
