Historical Santo Domingo - oldest continuously inhabited European settlemnt in the New World

[SilverKnight]

Santo Domingo (est. 1496)

Ciudad Colonial (Spanish for "Colonial City") is the first settlement made by Christopher Columbus and the Spanish explorers in the New World. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Colloquially known as "Zona Colonial" (Colonial Zone), Ciudad Colonial is part of the original Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the origin of the district dates back to the 1500s. The Spanish used this settlement as the first point of influence in the Americas, from which they conquered much of the American mainland. Even though Spaniards focused their attention more on the mainland after conquering Mexico, Peru, and other regions of Latin America, Ciudad Colonial remained an important historical site.

The city was surrounded by a defense wall extending from the Ozama River to "La Puerta del Conde" ("The Gate of the Count", in Spanish), which was the only entrance to the hinterland and the furthest boundary of the city until around the late 19th century.

There's a street called "Calle Las Damas" considered the first street ever made in the Americas. You can truly feel in peace in this place, and feel as if you are back into the past. I suggest you visit.


Old map -





Panoramic View from river



More of this wonderful place -

[Psychonaut]

Well, it's not really the first European settlement in the New World, but is certainly the oldest continuously inhabited one.

Still, old Spanish cities are pretty cool. The castles left in these are some of the few in the Americas, which is pretty neat.

[Bloodeagle]

What a great selection of photos!

[SilverKnight]

Well, it's not really the first European settlement in the New World, but is certainly the oldest continuously inhabited one.

Still, old Spanish cities are pretty cool. The castles left in these are some of the few in the Americas, which is pretty neat.

Thanks, and yea i fixed that , i just forgot a bit about those Norse settlements in today's eastern Canada. But after them my home city It's pretty much the oldest . The last time I want my feet started hurting, many of the streets are made out of cobblestones as you can see, so after a couple of walks you get used to it ^^

[Cato]

Well, it's not really the first European settlement in the New World, but is certainly the oldest continuously inhabited one.

The skraelings proved to be unwholesome neighbors because they kept stealing/getting drunk on Norse mead.

[Bloodeagle]

The skraelings proved to be unwholesome neighbors because they kept stealing/getting drunk on Norse mead.

Yet, the Carib Indians were known to be Cannibals!

Cannibalism (from Caníbalis, the Spanish name for the Carib people,[1] a West Indies tribe well known for their practice of cannibalism),[2] is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy.

[Don]

Impagable contribución.

Una lástima el nivel de degradación al que ha llegado el legado en muchos lugares de Hispanoamérica tras su independencia.

No obstante, un alivio saber que hay gentes como tú que se enorgullecen y luchan para preservar semejante tesoro.

[SilverKnight]

Impagable contribución.

Una lástima el nivel de degradación al que ha llegado el legado en muchos lugares de Hispanoamérica tras su independencia.

No obstante, un alivio saber que hay gentes como tú que se enorgullecen y luchan para preservar semejante tesoro.

Si en muchas partes de Sudamerica no ay ese orgullo que tenemos nosotros por nuestra zona colonial y el legado Español. Claro que los indigenas fueron matados pero no significa que no se pueda admirar nuestra parte Europea tampoco. Ay muchas de estas edificaciones que ves en las fotos que estan en malas condicones, pero se a propuesto en parte del municipio, repararlas y darle mantenimiento porque saben el valor que tienen y que todos tanto queremos esta parte de la ciudad. Ya se ven los resultados de ese projecto, y son muy buenos.

[SilverKnight]

Aqui tengo mas fotos

Here are some more...


Ruins of San Nicolás











name of first paved street