Santiago de Los Caballeros
Founded
in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World,
today Santiago de los Caballeros (the first "Santiago" of
America) is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic
on the island of Hispaniola. Also known as Santiago de los 30 Caballeros,
is the capital of Santiago Province. Santiago
is the cradle of the Merengue Tipico, the most popular form and original
Merengue of the island, called Pericos Ripiaos, these are candent fast
paced Merengue tunes, it's home to one of the most dynamic Free Trade
Zones in the country, and where the best nightclubs, discos, and restaurants
in the country are located, it is known for it's very intense nocturnal
life.
The
picture on the left is a monument built to commemorate the restoration
of the Republic's Independence, it was built in the 40's with 67 meters
of altitude, in white marble, it has small museums in it's interior,
several murals and frescos decrypting the life of taino indians and other
equally impressive works, it's a symbol of the city of Santiago, once
named "Monumento to the peace of Trujillo" while the Dominican
Dictator was in power, . It's a site that serves as a meeting destination
for all Santiagueros, these are the residents of the City of Santiago,
if you ever go there you'll notice something very much unique to this
city, the absolute absence of any tourism aimed sites, we have none there,
it's by far a tourism free city(if there ever was one).
An
ideal spot for cigar lovers and a perfect place to relax after a day
of shopping is the Museo del Tabaco. Visitors will learn about the
art of cigar-making while purchasing some of the country's top brands.
Located in Santiago, it would be a sin to exit Cibao Valley without
stopping by this one-of-a-kind museum. People from around the
globe visit Santiago year-round to stay at some of the finest accommodations
that satisfy the needs of any traveler. In addition, the city provides
a vibrant nightlife and variety of stores that are comparable to the
capital city.
