2 Best Sights in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The huge statue of Christopher Columbus in the park named after him dates from 1897 and is the work of sculptor Ernesto Gilbert. At the far end, the Catedral Primada de América is a landmark and most worthy of a visit. Like all the parks in the Zona Colonial, this one is quite a social gathering place, as is the sidewalk café across from it.

Calle Las Damas dead-ends as it goes in the direction of the Malecón. Few people ever make it past the junction of Calle Padre Bellini, thinking there's nothing to see. If you keep walking past the convent (you may hear the nuns singing in the chapel), just keep going until the street actually stops; make a right turn, and you'll find yourself in this delightful little park. Known almost solely to residents of the Zone, the Plaza de Castro was not named after the Cuban leader but rather a Dominican poet, Arturo Bautista Pellerano Castro. It's an enchanting green space, peaceful, and usually free of litter.