Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic, a historic city

Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, is the second most populous city in the country. It is a historic city that holds the essence of Dominican culture. The tourism proposal of Santiago de los Caballeros is very different from what is offered in Samaná or Punta Cana, Santiago offers an intense cultural life and interior tourism, through which you can discover some of the most impressive natural landscapes in the country. 

History of Santiago in the Dominican Republic

Santiago de los Caballeros is one of the oldest cities on the American continent, founded in 1495 by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage. The urban center was located on the banks of the Yaque del Norte River, where it is also located today.

In 1562, the area suffered an earthquake that destroyed virtually all constructions. In 1844, the well-known Battle of Santiago took place, with which the Dominican Republic established its independence as a sovereign country. 

In the early 19th century, the island was dominated by the French, a period that is partly reflected in the architecture of the city, with the main sign being the City Hall. 

Currently, Santiago de los Caballeros is one of the most important cities in the Dominican Republic, being the second in population with approximately 1,350,000 inhabitants.  

What to see in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

These are the most important tourist spots in Santiago de los Caballeros. 

Eduardo León Center

The Eduardo León Cultural Center is one of the most important cultural spaces in Santiago de los Caballeros, it is a modern building, inaugurated in 2003, that has 3 permanent exhibition spaces oriented to contemporary artists, in addition to other rooms that host various temporary exhibitions. 

The Eduardo León Center is the perfect place to gain in-depth knowledge of Dominican culture and heritage, as well as current Dominican art. 

Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration

This monument commemorates the independence of the Dominican country, it is a tower of more than 70 meters, which also houses a 5-story museum.

The original project is from 1944, although it was completed 9 years later due to the complexity of the construction. 

Cathedral of Santiago Apostle 

The main religious building of the city is the cathedral of Santiago, a temple built between 1868 and 1894, although the base is earlier, as the original building was destroyed in 1862 by an earthquake. 

Several facades have remnants of shrapnel, because during the Restoration War the cathedral was used as a fortress. One of the curiosities of this cathedral is that inside exists a copy of Michelangelo's Pieta.    

The Fortress of San Luis 

One of the colonial constructions of the city is the fortress of San Luis. It is a fort whose origin dates back to 1804, although its current form is from 1874, when it was rebuilt in stone.

The Fortress of San Luis was for several decades the city prison, although since 2004 it has been a military and artistic museum. The Tainos are the original culture of the island, at the Fortress of San Luis you can visit various displays of Taino culture and art. 

Cibao Theater 

Cibao is a region in the north of the Dominican Republic, to which Santiago de los Caballeros belongs, and which also names the most important theater in the city. 

Active since 1955, it has been one of the most important cultural centers in the city for several decades. It is important to note that its stage is one of the largest in the world, with a capacity of 1,600 people and its walls incorporate natural mahogany.

Los Pepines

The Los Pepines neighborhood is another must-see in Santiago de los Caballeros. One of its main attractions is the artwork on its facades, many of which have been decorated over the years by local artists with a multitude of colors.

Pico Duarte

For the more adventurous, one of the must-see spots is Pico Duarte, which is only 60 kilometers from the city. This mountainous peak is the highest in the country, reaching 3,098 meters in height. 

Pico Duarte and the two national parks located nearby offer all kinds of hiking routes, through which you can discover a different facet of the Dominican Republic.  

Modelo Market

Another of the must-see attractions in Santiago, Dominican Republic, is its market, known as the Modelo Market. This market not only has food sales spaces, but also has shops specializing in jewelry, crafts, and other typical products from this area of the Dominican Republic.   

At Noval Properties, as a promoter of real estate in the Dominican Republic, we have real estate promotions in the main cities of the country, if you want to know all our real estate projects, visit our website and don't miss the opportunity to invest in one of the most touristic areas in the world.

If you would like more information on how to invest in our projects, contact us at sales@novalproperties.com